The eyes of Wonder (a tribute)

In a recent interview, Stevie Wonder was asked the following question by Larry King (if I may paraphrase): "One musician retired in his 50's and when asked why responded with, 'I have said all I have to say.'" To this Wonder said that as long as their was life, as long as their was conflict unresolved, as long as their was conflict over the unresolved conflicts, as long as their was pain & injustice he would have something to say. This was an intense statement.. yet somehow overshadowed by the tremendous impact of a few of his other poignant statements. I will give a few examples: When Larry King asked him if he always is writing in his mind, he said that he wasn't really always writing but that he did spend much of his time "in his head" and figuring how he wants certain ideas and playing with things (like a kid sort of). He then added this on the tail end (which somehow made him seem like the wisest grown man with a kid's heart & playful attitude that I have ever heard of).... "But, uh, when I feel that I don't have a song.. I just say 'God please give me another song!' & I just get quiet & it happens."  He also said this at one point in the interview when asked how he dealt with being called a genius at such an early age & what he thought about it. 

‎"This here is a gift from God, I am only a vehicle of his use." -- Stevie wonder when asked on how he handled being called a genius at a young age & throughout his life.

What is there that can be said of such wisdom? Is there anything?

My response as a fellow musician & songwriter: The mind sees far more than the eyes ever do. How does a writer write without sight? Easy, he sees with his heart & his emotions & his mind & his smell & his feeling.. and by feeling I mean rea...lly "feeling" the way that many of us seldom do. He feels; he grasp for concepts & ideas & truths the way that few of the human race will. This is because the eye is often the limiting factor of our bodies and souls. We are conditioned to limit our entire lives to what can be seen with the eye. We look, but we don't really see.

Okay, so I guess all of that really isn't easy.. but.. well.. paradox much? lol...


After watching this interview & hearing of Wonder's open attitude to work with virtually anyone musician that has drive & love of the music.. because of his own love of the music.. I did just what Wonder said he does.. I asked God for just another song.. though I have done this before (in different words) I especially thought of some of the themes he accentuates and penned this as a "vehicle of God's".

Enjoy! :-)


Take one ride to the bus stop today to see the people living lives,
or so they say.
I see a basket sitting high upon a shelf, a little boy wants food but there’s
no one there to help.
I’m tired of living in the age of  “yours” & “mine”,
while a child’s imprisoned, forced to the life a crime.
Guess one man’s poison is the recent runaway, & the other man’s prison is the eyes that made him stay.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it is just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see hell.
Oh I should see hell, come take my “I’s” so I don’t.

I spent one night in a prison cell today,
It seems my nights & days have lost their track that way.
This is no different from the basket on the shelf,
or the boy who needed it when his dad deprived his health.
I’m tired of taking this in the age of passive rights!
True love means action, & it’s come for “yours” & “mine”.
I’m tired of living death with my life upon the shelf…
With the old men singing songs of the times that went so well.

& our voices swell.
& our voices did swell!!!

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it’s just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see  Satan & his hell.
I want to leave, could you take my “I’s” so I don’t?

This is the difference in Heaven & hell…
This is the difference in basket on the shelf…
One looks too high to see that the bowl is down below..
One looks too low to see that the bowl is high above..
& we do the same, with our love.. with your love.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it is just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see hell.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it’s just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see  Satan & his hell.
I want to leave, could you take my “I’s” so I don’t?

I want to leave, come take my “I’s” so I don’t!