Thursday February 17, 2022 “Living in the City” Stevie Wonder

Steveland Hardaway Judkins (Morris), born blind became a musical prodigy by age nine when he learned to play piano, drums and harmonica while also singing his church choir.  He would come to the attention of the world at age twelve with the live Motown recording of “FingerTips (Part 2)” as Little Stevie Wonder. It would be Motown's second number one single.

Wonder is a pioneer and influence to musicians across a range of genres that includes rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, his use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B.

He was one of the first Motown artists to write, produce, arrange, and perform his own songs. 

Wonder has sold more than one hundred million records, won 25 Grammy Awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He is one of only two artists and groups who have won the Grammy for Album of the Year three times as the main credited artist.

Motown head Berry Gordy said Wonder was, "The most innovative person that I've ever known. But also unique with his tones and his voice quality."

If you're curious about who played on the recording of "Living for the City" it's Stevie Wonder on lead vocal, background vocals, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass, synthesizer and handclaps.

Stay safe and well..and Minnie Riperton (“Lovin” You”) and Deniece Williams (“Let’s Hear It for the Boy”) used to sing backup for Stevie Wonder...but not on today's song.

A boy is born in hard time Mississippi

Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty

His parents give him love and affection

To keep him strong, moving in the right direction

 Living just enough, just enough for the city

 His father works some days for fourteen hours

And you can bet, he barely makes a dollar

His mother goes to scrub the floors for many

And you'd best believe, she hardly gets a penny

 Living just enough, just enough for the city

 His sister's black, but she is sho'nuff pretty

Her skirt is short, but Lord her legs are sturdy

To walk to school, she's got to get up early

Her clothes are old, but never are they dirty

 Living just enough, just enough for the city

 Her brother's smart, he's got more sense than many

His patience's long, but soon he won't have any

To find a job is like a haystack needle

'Cause where he lives they don't use colored people

 Living just enough, just enough for the city, yeah

Everybody, city, yeah

(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain't nothin' but the city

(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Everybody, city, yeah

(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain't nothin' but the city

(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Living for the city, yeah

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) The funky, cryin' city

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Living for the city

Ain't nothin' but the city

 (Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Everybody clap you hand together now

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city, yeah, yeah

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)

(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)

 The bus for New York City!

Hey bus driver, I'm getting on that, hold it

Thanks a lot

Wow, New York, just like I pictured it

Skyscrapers and everything

 Psst, hey, hey brother, hey come here slick

Hey you look, you look hip man

Hey, you wanna make yourself five bucks, man?

Yeah, brother

Look here, run this across the street for me right quick

Okay, run this across the street for me

What? (Up against that goddamn car!) Huh? (Let's go)

I didn't know, what?

Gimme your hands up, you punk

I'm just going across the street

Put that leg up, shut your mouth

Hell no, what did I do?

Okay, turn around, turn around

Put your hands behind your back, let's go, lets go

A jury of your peers having found you guilty, ten years

What?

Come on, come on, get in that cell, nigger

God, Lord

 His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty

He spends the life walking the streets of New York City

He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution

He tried and fought, but to him there's no solution

Living just enough, just enough for the city (yeah, yeah, yeah)

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow

And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow

This place is cruel, nowhere could be much colder

If we don't change, the world will soon be over

Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city