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Stevie Wonder — Higher Ground
Album: Innervisions
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4229









Released: 1973
Length: 3:36
Plays (last 30 days): 5
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'
'Til 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'
'Til I reach my highest ground

'Til I reach my highest ground
Oh no
No one's gonna bring me down
Oh no
'Til I reach my highest ground
Don't you let nobody bring you down
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around
Comments (377)add comment
In the day, I didn't appreciate how ground breaking this era of Stevie Wonder was. Luckily I stand corrected and can now fully enjoy his genius. 
easy 10
 kcar wrote:



I was about to pull my flamethrower out of the closet but then I read the second line of your post. 



I do love the RHCP version, but only Mr. Steveland Morris' version gets a 'Godlike' 10.
 ShockwaveRider wrote:

I feel like Mr. Wonder turned the funky knob up to 11 on this one.



My first thought was Mr Wonder has a funky............? Excuse me while I just go wash my mind out with  soap
 jelgator wrote:

This is OK, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers' version is soooooooo much better!

Just joking!  I kid!  Easy 10 on this song.




I was about to pull my flamethrower out of the closet but then I read the second line of your post. 

I see what you did there William by playing this after Desireless!
Sadly as true and relevant today as ever. 
 jelgator wrote:

This is OK, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers' version is soooooooo much better!

Just joking!  I kid!  Easy 10 on this song.



Remember when Chris Daughtry sang this on American Idol and thought it was a RHCP original?  good times.
I don't like all his stuff but wow he really hit the heights a few times.
All in all, no one had a better or more sustained output of quality, evocative music in the '70s than Stevie.   No one. 
Teachers keep on teachin'
Preachers keep on preachin'
World keep on worldin'
 
Come on, let's stick with the format.
I feel like Mr. Wonder turned the funky knob up to 11 on this one.
 Jeff_Guinn wrote:

Same four bars, played completely to death.


They couldn't have a better death.
This one starts at 10 and goes up from there.
This is OK, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers' version is soooooooo much better!

Just joking!  I kid!  Easy 10 on this song.
 Proclivities wrote:

Based on that premise, I would reckon that article is flawed.



Agreed. All three had more than only 3 great albums.

And Michigan still proudly claims Mr. Wonder as one of our own. :-)
 LPCity wrote:


Your humor is equally matched by your spelling ability.  "classroos"? 



"classroos" are Joeys and Kangas going to school.
I saw the Rolling Stones in 1972. Stevie Wonder was the opening act. AWSOME SHOW!!!  Stevie had just made his transition to this style of music! Previously, I had known him as "Little Stevie Wonder" from his hits in the mid 60s, when I was a kid!
 Stetsonman wrote:

obviously he didnt "see" Covid-19 shutting us down.
hey teachers... get back in the fucking classroos



Your humor is equally matched by your spelling ability.  "classroos"? 
 DanFHiggins wrote:

lizardking is old - just as I am. You see when lots of folks first heard him in the sixties that was his moniker. Not a slam at all just some handle for the showbiz people to show him off. His talent transcended that, thank God, and he got his recognition as a true musical wizard, social warrior and all around decent person.
Oh and I have been rocking out to his music the whole time {#Wink}
Might be the first time I've been happy with being called old...thanks and LLRP!!

This playlist has me grinning Bill! David Bowie - Starman, Dave Brubeck - Take Five, the Temptations - Papa was a Rolling Stone, The Stranglers - Golden Brown, Eagle-Eye Cherry - Desireless and now Stevie Wonder Higher Ground. Not sure you can top this combination!!!
Gawd! I'm trying to do some work on my laptop here! How can an old geezer be expected to type when he can't keep still? 
Jahgirl8 wrote:
  
lizardking wrote:
.he is aptly named for sure...Long Live RP and Little Stevie Wonder!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
I'm guessing you never met him. Little Mikey Bloomberg is appropriate. Little Stevie? Me thinks not. Me thinks your mind is perchance little instead.


kbs wrote:

This comes across as a tad personal - I'm reading it that you are referring to size rather than the 'Wonder', which is what I see lizardking referring to.  He was a child prodigy, and a musical genius thereafter. 



I have the album "The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie" from 1962.
The back cover notes starts, "Little Stevie Wonder, the eleven year old sightless musical prodigy..."
Perfect song (well, always) but especially resonant on this election day morning!  May we all try to reach for the higher ground.
To think he wrote, recorded and produced this in 3 hours.
obviously he didnt "see" Covid-19 shutting us down.
hey teachers... get back in the fucking classroos
 jahgirl8 wrote:
 lizardking wrote:
.he is aptly named for sure...Long Live RP and Little Stevie Wonder!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
 
I'm guessing you never met him. Little Mikey Bloomberg is appropriate. Little Stevie? Me thinks not. Me thinks your mind is perchance little instead.

 
This comes across as a tad personal - I'm reading it that you are referring to size rather than the 'Wonder', which is what I see lizardking referring to.  He was a child prodigy, and a musical genius thereafter. 
 jahgirl8 wrote:
I'm guessing you never met him. Little Mikey Bloomberg is appropriate. Little Stevie? Me thinks not. Me thinks your mind is perchance little instead.
 
lizardking is old - just as I am. You see when lots of folks first heard him in the sixties that was his moniker. Not a slam at all just some handle for the showbiz people to show him off. His talent transcended that, thank God, and he got his recognition as a true musical wizard, social warrior and all around decent person.
Oh and I have been rocking out to his music the whole time {#Wink}
 lizardking wrote:
Though I'll keep this track rated as a 9, the album is a 10 for sure....and Stevie is FOR SURE the best 'one-man-band' artist out there....he laid down all the tracks on 6 of the 9 tracks and boy...he is aptly named for sure...Long Live RP and Little Stevie Wonder!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
 
I'm guessing you never met him. Little Mikey Bloomberg is appropriate. Little Stevie? Me thinks not. Me thinks your mind is perchance little instead.

Though I'll keep this track rated as a 9, the album is a 10 for sure....and Stevie is FOR SURE the best 'one-man-band' artist out there....he laid down all the tracks on 6 of the 9 tracks and boy...he is aptly named for sure...Long Live RP and Little Stevie Wonder!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
 123heyaho! wrote:


Was.
 
Still is  and will be forever
 123heyaho! wrote:
Was.
 
Still is a musical genius.  He's not dead yet, and neither am I.

One of the best albums of the past century.  Pop, funk, soul, and plenty of dancing!  

 

^--- dancing on Little Stevie Wonder's piano!
 lathyris wrote:


Agreed - and that's saying something! This man is a genius.
 

Was.
 DigitalJer wrote:
Solid 10 for me.  Among Little Stevie's best.

 

Agreed - and that's saying something! This man is a genius.
 Proclivities wrote:

Based on that premise, I would reckon that article is flawed.

 
FANTASTIC MUSIC!!!   (Be-lated Happy Birthday Proclivities  : )
Well, this is not the only Stevie Wonder song I like - but indeed the only one I like as a Stevie Wonder version. ;)
 carlos65 wrote:
 Was reading an article t'other day that reckons no artist has produced more than 3 great albums. Includes the Fabs but didn't mention Bowie. Not sure how Stevie figures on that front.  
 
Based on that premise, I would reckon that article is flawed.
 Jeff_Guinn wrote:
Same four bars, played completely to death.

 
And reincarnated, and played to death... then reincarnated, and played to death... and reincarnated, then played to death...
 
Same four bars, played completely to death.
Ears immediately Perk-Up!!!!  
Solid 10 for me.  Among Little Stevie's best.
 Was reading an article t'other day that reckons no artist has produced more than 3 great albums. Includes the Fabs but didn't mention Bowie. Not sure how Stevie figures on that front.  

phlattop wrote:

Good to hear. I've always thought it was unfair to hold an absolutely transcendant period of work in an artist's career as the only work to listen to. Stevie's stretch of 5 amazing albums in the early 70s is an artistic peak matched by few (Beatles, Dylan, Miles Davis, Stones) but there are later gems as well (Colors, skeleton in your closet).

 


The RP Player 3.0 is awesome!
When will it be available as an Android app? 
 Proclivities wrote:

I don't think there's any guitar (or bass) on this track.  I'm pretty sure it's just drums and (several different) keyboards, all played by Stevie.  Kick-ass tune, at any rate.

 
Wiki agrees with you.  I love that Stevie played all the instruments on the track.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_Ground_(Stevie_Wonder_song)


 pcicatar wrote:

Yes!  RHCP were probably my intro to Stevie.  I can't tell you the last time I listened to the Chili Peppers, but I know that I listened to Stevie today, yesterday and the day before!

 
Thanks for summing up my reaction to RHCP, although their cover of this song is one of their best songs. Stevie still owns this song. 
 Proclivities wrote:

I don't think there's any guitar (or bass) on this track.  I'm pretty sure it's just drums and (several different) keyboards, all played by Stevie.  Kick-ass tune, at any rate.

 
"Clavinet"...and Stevie is a master
                                          Yeah Baby! Funk me up!!{#Bananasplit} Lovin' me some Stevie!
Eric Clapton says in his book that, after getting married, they jumped in the car and started the trip with one Stevie Wonder classic tune (maybe this one?). Listening to this loud this makes perfect sense to me!!
One of my top-ten albums of all time.
{#Dancingbanana}.... feels like vacation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqrvm2XDvpQ
 Proclivities wrote:

I don't think there's any guitar (or bass) on this track.  I'm pretty sure it's just drums and (several different) keyboards, all played by Stevie.  Kick-ass tune, at any rate.

 
Stevie played the drums on this? I always thought they were under-rated on this track...
A1 top of the line piece of music man, Stevie is KING!!!
 unclehud wrote:
A protest song masquerading as a slick little pop number — a very, very GOOD slick little pop number. 

How 'bout that lead guitar?  Flanger and wah-wah?  And it sounds so much like the electronic piano, and there's another guitar in the background whacking away ...

 
A protest song? I always thought it was about death and rebirth.

I'm so darn glad he let me try it again 
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin 

 
 Proclivities wrote:

I don't think there's any guitar (or bass) on this track.  I'm pretty sure it's just drums and (several different) keyboards, all played by Stevie.  Kick-ass tune, at any rate.

  : my boy's wicked smaaaht
Great memories of summer nights listening to a transistor radio as a kid.  Loved this song from the first second I heard it.
 unclehud wrote:
A protest song masquerading as a slick little pop number -- a very, very GOOD slick little pop number. 

How 'bout that lead guitar?  Flanger and wah-wah?  And it sounds so much like the electronic piano, and there's another guitar in the background whacking away ...

 
I don't think there's any guitar (or bass) on this track.  I'm pretty sure it's just drums and (several different) keyboards, all played by Stevie.  Kick-ass tune, at any rate.
 garrettb wrote:
Super stuff!

However, please don't neglect his later albums. He turns one out every 10 years or so.
Hotter Than July (mid 80's) was excellent.
Conversation Peace (mid 90's) has some excellent songs - not least the song of the same name, and I'm New and Rain Your Love Down.
And finally A Time 2 Love (mid 2000's) - again, the track of the same name, and Moon Blue, Shelter In The Rain, and more.

Really, he is a really good artist and did NOT, contrary to popular belief, lose his mojo after the early 70's. 
 

 
Good to hear. I've always thought it was unfair to hold an absolutely transcendant period of work in an artist's career as the only work to listen to. Stevie's stretch of 5 amazing albums in the early 70s is an artistic peak matched by few (Beatles, Dylan, Miles Davis, Stones) but there are later gems as well (Colors, skeleton in your closet).
My favorite song about reincarnation.

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' 'til I reach the highest ground
All instruments played by Mr Wonder, No digital magic involved. That fantastic wah achieved with a pedal and some serious talent.
Geeee Neeee Us.
Great track thats been overplayed. Thank goodness for psd.

I'm no big fan, but this so so good.
 thewiseking wrote:

This album is a masterpiece from start to finish. Transcends Motown, R&B and Rock and Roll. Higher Ground indeed.



 
That's one big ditto :)
Super stuff!

However, please don't neglect his later albums. He turns one out every 10 years or so.
Hotter Than July (mid 80's) was excellent.
Conversation Peace (mid 90's) has some excellent songs - not least the song of the same name, and I'm New and Rain Your Love Down.
And finally A Time 2 Love (mid 2000's) - again, the track of the same name, and Moon Blue, Shelter In The Rain, and more.

Really, he is a really good artist and did NOT, contrary to popular belief, lose his mojo after the early 70's. 
 
I'm Up!
 Poacher wrote:

I know. But over the years here I have noticed some deliberately mark nothing at all with a 10. I think it is because they have religion in them and can't mark a song equal to their chosen deity. 

 
While others honor their particular Deity by rating nothing less than a 10.
Looking at the track list for this album.   Wow !
 

thewiseking wrote:

This album is a masterpiece from start to finish. Transcends Motown, R&B and Rock and Roll. Higher Ground indeed.



 


This album is a masterpiece from start to finish. Transcends Motown, R&B and Rock and Roll. Higher Ground indeed.


My dad had an 8 track of this in his car back in the 70's, I was about 9 or so, and I did all I could to hear this cut when I was riding with him.
Outstanding. Now if we can only get some Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, 4 Tops......... Motown Rocks.
 NeuroGeek wrote:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers do an awesome cover of this.
 
No they don't.
 ThePoose wrote:
Keep on wonderin'....


 
michaelgmitchell wrote:
Haven't seen/heard Stevie in 'public' for quite a while. Wonder if he's okay.

 



 
Stevie's playing at a festival in Quebec July 4 - 14 with the Black Keys, Booker T. Jones and others. 
 

A protest song masquerading as a slick little pop number -- a very, very GOOD slick little pop number. 

How 'bout that lead guitar?  Flanger and wah-wah?  And it sounds so much like the electronic piano, and there's another guitar in the background whacking away ...
 jimmpypowder wrote:
A masterpiece!

 
EXACTLY!{#Clap}
 dalebryan wrote:
Too much SW.  He's not worthy of so much RP playing time.
 
Only 15 SW tracks in the library compared to 123 from The Beatles, 115 from Dylan and 81 for U2 and this has only been played 3 times in the last 30 days.  More Stevie please Bill! {#Notworthy} {#Good-vibes}
 dalebryan wrote:
Too much SW.  He's not worthy of so much RP playing time.
 
I listen a lot. I don't hear a surplus of Stevie. More would be welcome. Songs in the Key of Life is a masterpiece, Who, in your humble opinion, is worthy of more RP playing time?  
Too much SW.  He's not worthy of so much RP playing time.

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
i like RHCP version better.
RP good ratio of classics this am
A masterpiece!
one of the best albums of all time, no question. this song is killer.
The man at the height of his career.  Always good, truly awesome in the early 70s.
 philbertr wrote:
I think this whole album rates a 10, but this song, especially, how can anyone say this is NOT Godlike?
 
I know. But over the years here I have noticed some deliberately mark nothing at all with a 10. I think it is because they have religion in them and can't mark a song equal to their chosen deity. 
I think this whole album rates a 10, but this song, especially, how can anyone say this is NOT Godlike?
Beautiful album, man——BOSS!
Dig this tune.
Stevie is not my thing - but this is a great song!
 vit wrote:
NeuroGeek wrote:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers do an awesome cover of this.
 
I heard the RHCP version of this song first and was all "hey yeah" hands over the head and all that. Then I heard this for the first time (probably here) and finally understood a) what it was all about and b) that Stevie Wonder really is talented.
 
Yes!  RHCP were probably my intro to Stevie.  I can't tell you the last time I listened to the Chili Peppers, but I know that I listened to Stevie today, yesterday and the day before!
 NeuroGeek wrote:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers do an awesome cover of this.
 
I heard the RHCP version of this song first and was all "hey yeah" hands over the head and all that. Then I heard this for the first time (probably here) and finally understood a) what it was all about and b) that Stevie Wonder really is talented.
Great song - let's hear some Chili Peppers next
he played at Whitney Houston's funeral, you can find it on youtube

 
scrubbrush wrote:


there's a photo of him with Bette Midler (?) at a holloween party in one of the last few issues of Rolling Stone... he looks healthy...maybe a bit heavy, but happy. I'll tell him you said hi if i ever get to meet him
 


To me, Stevie stands on all our shoulders. When he tells us what he sees, we'd best listen. Just sayin'.
 kdavistcb wrote:
Jeff Beck-like guitar groove with Stevie Wonder's incredible rythmic vocals.
 
Those two were actually friends and have worked together, but Stevie plays every instrument on this tune, as far as I know.

too cool... i just looked at wifey last nite and told her that I needed to get this album and "Talking Book" on CD.  Anyone know if they ever remastered these?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers do an awesome cover of this.
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Haven't seen/heard Stevie in 'public' for quite a while. Wonder if he's okay.
 

there's a photo of him with Bette Midler (?) at a holloween party in one of the last few issues of Rolling Stone... he looks healthy...maybe a bit heavy, but happy. I'll tell him you said hi if i ever get to meet him
 TerryS wrote:

Romeo, you must wear out a ton of shoe leather, or perhaps it's barefeet and rotating glitterball?

 
So you DO know him...

{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}{#Bananasplit}
Haven't seen/heard Stevie in 'public' for quite a while. Wonder if he's okay.
Dang it Bill! I need to go to bed. This ain't helpin'! Needs no more groovin'. The Groovy Police are leaving this one alone.
I put the socially conscious soul music of Stevie, Marvin, Curtis, et al, on par with Dylan and the folkies of the sixties. Maybe the silver lining of the mess we're in now will be someone will craft something to put it all in perspective.
Jeff Beck-like guitar groove with Stevie Wonder's incredible rythmic vocals.
Comes with me on the desert island.

{#Bananajam}{#Angel}{#Bananajam}{#Tongue}{#Bananajam}

Romeo, you must wear out a ton of shoe leather, or perhaps it's barefeet and rotating glitterball?


 dmax wrote:

This is so correct. What an amazing period of music.

And, it fits with my contention that the best music ever was generally written in the 1973-74 period. Nothing like it since. 

 
Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, ZZ Top, Paul Simon....all at their creative peak.

Wak, wak, wakkedy-wak - mute. Kudos to yer man Wonder for all his good stuff, but this sound irritated the feck out of me in the 70s and still does now. Back in 5 after a dose of modern dub...
FYI.

1.choon
 A song or any piece of music to which an individual assigns the highest level of merit but most usually an exclaimation upon hearing the song in public. Bohemian Rhapsody! CHOON! 
2.choon
 homophone of "tune(s)"; "tunes" pronounced in a dutch accent; Popularized by a popular trance composer/DJ Armin Van Buuren; Eyy mate, u check out the latest choon from DJ Tiesto? It's such a good choon, I wanna lick my feet!

Props to urbandictionary.com.
 Jelani wrote:
Well, according to the album cover, now I know why he's blind; a big stony looking poker came out of the sky and poked him in the eye.(s)
I never knew that. 
 
No silly. He's blind because he uses his eyes to SHOOT giant stone laser beams. Please try to keep up.

Actually it's because the hospital gave him oxygen when he was a baby. Weird huh?

Van Morrison > Focus > Ramones > Stevie Wonder?
Great set for a Friday morning.
Well, according to the album cover, now I know why he's blind; a big stony looking poker came out of the sky and poked him in the eye.(s)
I never knew that. 
Yup! Precisely what I presumed -> Upper nineTz on this one. Such a great sound. 
An all-time great. I used to work for a medical ultrasound company, and I put together a band to play for a company celebration.  I named us the "Ultrasonic Assault", and we played this song, though we played the Red Hot Chili Peppers version.  It was loud and fast.  So much fun.

ETA: Bill followed this with a RHCP song!  But it's a bad one ("Hey Oh").

Sooo cool. Check the credits.He plays all the instruments.

 bluefrog wrote:
Somehow I've missed out on Stevi Wonder.  I'm not really sure how that happened.

He's Awesome.

 
Maybe you are too young, or if not, thought the Grammy's and TV variety shows in the 70's were bogus, or hated top 40 radio or who knows why.

But now that you are on to Stevie, you should do your best to sample from the great albums he but out at his early 70's peak, which for me - others may differ, are the four in a row - Talking Book, Innervisions, Fullfillingess First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life.