℗ 1973 Tamla Records TMLP 6027 / © Motown Records
Innervisions is the sixteenth album by American musician Stevie Wonder, released August 3, 1973 on Motown Records. A landmark recording, it was the third of five consecutive albums widely hailed as his "classic period", along with Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. The nine tracks that comprise Innervisions encompass a wide range of themes and issues: from drug abuse in "Too High," social anger in "Living for the City," to love; in the ballads "All in Love is Fair" and "Golden Lady." As with many of Stevie Wonder's albums the lyrics, composition and production are almost entirely his own work, with the ARP synthesizer used prominently throughout the album. This instrument was a common motif among musicians of the time because of its ability to construct a complete sound environment. Wonder was the first black artist to experiment with this technology on a mass scale, and Innervisions was hugely influential on the subsequent future of commercial black music. He also played all or virtually all instruments on six of the album's nine tracks, making most of Innervisions a representative one-man band. |
Dodo do do do dodo Do do dodo do dodo Dodo dodo do do Dodo do do do dodo Do do do do dodo do Dodo dodo dodo I'm too high I'm too high But I ain't touched the sky I'm too high I'm too high But I ain't touched the sky She's a girl in a dream She sees a four eyed cartoon monster on the T.V. screen She takes another puff and says "It's a crazy scene" That red is green And she's a tangerine I'm too high I'm too high But I ain't left the ground I'm too high I'm too high I hope I never ever come down She's the girl in her life But her world's a superficial paradise She had a chance to make it big more than once or twice But no dice She wasn't very nice Ooh Dodo do do do dodo Do do dodo do dodo Do do do do do do Dodo do do do dodo Do do dodo do dodo Dodo dodo Dodo dodo Dodo dodo I'm too high I'm too high I can't ever touch the sky I'm too high I'm so high I feel like I'm about to die She's a girl of the past I guess that I got to her at last A did you hear the news about the girl today She passed away What did her friend say They said she's too high Too high Can't hang around anyway... Dodo do do do dodo Do do dodo do dodo Do...do...do... Do...do...do... Do...
People hand in hand Have I lived to see the milk and honey land? Where hates a dream and love forever stands Or is this a vision in my mind? The law was never passed But somehow all men feel they're truly free at last. Have we really gone this far through space and time Or is this a vision in my mind? I'm not one who make believes I know that leaves are green They only turn to brown when autumn comes around I know just what I say Today's not yesterday And all things have an ending But what I'd like to know Is could a place like this exist so beautiful Or do we have to find our wings and fly away To the vision in our mind? I'm not one who make believes I know that leaves are green They only change to brown when autumn comes around I know just what I say Today's not yesterday And all things have an ending But what I'd like to know Is could a place like this exist so beautiful Or do we have to take our wings and fly away To the vision in our mind?
(Wonder)
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...ee ha! 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... yeah! 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...um hum 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... Living just enough... For the city... ooh, ooh Living just enough... For the city... ooh, ooh Living just enough... For the city... ooh, ooh Living just enough... For the city... ooh, ooh His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty He spends his life walking the streets of New York City He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution He tried to vote 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 no where 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!!!! La, La, La, La, La, La, Da Ba Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da
(Wonder)
Looking in your eyes Kind of heaven eyes Closing both my eyes Waiting for surprise To see the heaven in your eyes is not so far Cause I'm not afraid to try and go it To know the love and the beauty never known before I'll leave it up to you to show it And golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Take me right away Looking at your hands Hands can understand Waiting for the chance Just to hold your hand A touch of rain and sunshine made the flower grow Into a lovely smile that's blooming And it's so clear to me that you're a dream come true There's no way that I'll be losing And golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Take me right away A touch of rain and sunshine made the flower grow Into a lovely smile that's blooming And it's so clear to me that your my dream come true There is no way that I'll be losing Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there Golden lady, golden lady I'd like to go there…
(Wonder)
People keep on learnin' Soldiers keep on warrin' World keep on turnin' Cause it won't be too long Powers keep on lyin' While your people keep on dyin' World keep on turnin' Cause it won't be too long I'm so darn glad he let me try it again Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then Gonna keep on tryin' Till I reach the highest ground Teachers keep on teachin' Preachers keep on preachin' World keep on turnin' Cause it won't be too long Oh no Lovers keep on lovin' Believers keep on believin' Sleepers just stop sleepin' Cause it won't be too long Oh no I'm so glad that he let me try it again Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then Gonna keep on tryin' Till I reach my highest ground...Whew! Till I reach my highest ground No one's gonna bring me down Oh no Till I reach my highest ground Don't you let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try) God is gonna show you higher ground He's the only friend you have around
(Wonder)
Hello Jesus Jesus children Jesus loves you Jesus children Hello children Jesus loves you of America Are you hearing What he's saying? Are you feeling What you're praying? Are you hearing, praying, feeling what you say inside? You'd better tell Your story fast... And if you lie It will come to pass... Tell me! Tell me holy Holy roller Holy roller Are you standing Are you standing Like a soldier? Like a soldier? Waell... Are you standing for everything you talk about? Holy roller... Say Transcen Transcendental Dental meditation Meditation Speaks of Speaks of inner Inner Preservation Preservation Waell... Transcendental meditation gives you peace of Peace of mind You'd better tell Your story fast... And if you lie It will come to pass... Tell 'em Don't lie to 'em Don't tell lies Tell 'em Don't lie to 'em Ooh, hu hu... uh uh uh...yeah Tell 'em Don't lie to 'em Tell 'em Don't lie to 'em Tell 'em Jesus Tell me Tell me junkie If you're able If you're able Playing Are you playing your cards On the table On the table Yeah... Are you happy when you stick a needle in your vein Hey hey Tell the children Hey hey hey Jesus Jesus died on Cross for you Cross for you Mary Mary is just Looking at you Looking at you Yeah... Mother Mary feels so much pain Looking at him So. you better tell Tell your story Your story fast... Tell your story, story! And if you lie Yeah, tell your story It will come to pass Yeah, tell your story, story! Um... um I need you Jesus Um... um I need you Jesus Um... um I need you Jesus Um... um I need you Jesus Um... um I need you Jesus…
(Wonder)
All is fair in love Love's a crazy game Two people vow to stay In love as one they say But all is changed with time The future none can see The road you leave behind Ahead lies mystery But all is fair in love I had to go away A writer takes his pen To write the words again That all in love is fair All of fate's a chance It's either good or bad I tossed my coin to say In love with me you'd stay But all in war is so cold You either win or lose When all is put away The losing side I'll play But all is fair in love I should have never left your side A writer takes his pen To write the words again That all in love is fair A writer takes his pen To write the words again That all in love is fair
(Wonder)
Everybody's got a thing But some don't know how to handle it Always reachin' out in vain Accepting the things not worth having but Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama Cause I'll be standing on the side When you check it out They say your style of life's a drag And that you must go other places But just don't you feel too bad When you get fooled by smiling faces but Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama Cause I'll be standing on the side When you check it out... When you get off... your trip Don't you worry 'bout a thing... Don't you worry 'bout a thing...ooh Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama Cause I'll be standing on the side When you check it out... When you get off... your trip Everybody needs a change A chance to check out the new But you're the only one to see The changes you take yourself through but Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing, pretty mama Cause I'll be standing in the wings When you check it out Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing Don't you worry 'bout a thing
(Wonder)
He's a man With a plan Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand He's Misstra Know-It-All Playin' hard Talkin' fast Makin' sure that he won't be the last He's Misstra Know-It-All Makes a deal With a smile Knowin' all the time that his lie's a mile He's Misstra Know-It-All Must be seen There's no doubt He's the coolest one with the biggest mouth He's Misstra Know-It-All If you tell him he's livin' fast He will say what do you know If you had my kind of cash You'd have more than one place to go oh Oou... oou... oou oou... oou... Any place He will play His only concern is how much you'll pay He's Misstra Know-It-All If he shakes On a bet He's the kind of dude that won't pay his debt He's Misstra Know-It-All When you say that he's livin wrong He'll tell you he knows he's livin' right And you'd be a stronger man If you took Misstra Know-lt-All's advice oh oh Oou... oou... oou oou... oou... He's the man With a plan Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand He's Misstra Know-It-All Take my work Please beware Of a man that just don't give a care no He's Misstra Know-It-All (Look out he's coming) Dum bum bum ba bum bum, Dum bum bum ba bum bum Bum bum bum bum bum Say He's Misstra Know-It-All Can this line Take his hand Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan He's Misstra Know-It-All Every boy take your hand To the man that's got the plan He's Misstra Know-It-All Give a hand to the man That you know he's got the plan He's Misstra Know-It-All Give a hand to the man Don't you know darn well he's got the super plan He's Misstra Know-It-All Give a hand to the man You know damn well he's got the super plan He's Misstra Know-It-All If we had less of him Don't you know we'd have a better land He's Misstra Know-It-All So give a hand to the man Although you've given out as much as you can He's Misstra Know-It-All Check his sound out He'll tell it all Hey You talk too much you worry me to death He's Misstra Know-It-All…