Soul Music

The song, which is by Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, and Henry Cosby, was released in 1965 and became a hit in 1966. Stevie Wonder was only 15 years old. He had not had a major hit in two years, which was an eternity in those Motown days, and he and his voice were transitioning from “Little Stevie Wonder” to a more mature one. It went to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the R&B Chart, and $13 in the U.K. With lots of horns behind him, the singer of the song tells his story of poor boy meets rich girl, and he believes their love will see them through. Everything will be all right. The song was also on his 1966 album Up-Tight.

Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950. He was born prematurely and had a condition that caused blindness. He was a child prodigy, signing on with Motown’s Tamla label when he was only 11. He is singer, songwriter, musician on many instruments, and a record producer. There are so many great songs of his: “Fingertips,” “Superstition”, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” and the list goes on.

Here are the lyrics to ‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright) by Stevie Wonder:

Baby, ev’rything is all right, uptight, out of sight.
Baby, ev’rything is all right, uptight, out of sight.

I’m a poor man’s son, from across the railroad tracks,
The only shirt I own is hangin’ on my back,
But I’m the envy of ev’ry single guy
Since I’m the apple of my girl’s eye.
When we go out stepping on the town for a while
My money’s low and my suit’s out of style,
But it’s all right if my clothes aren’t new
Out of sight because my heart is true.

She says baby ev’rything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
Baby, ev’rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.

She’s a pearl of a girl, I guess that’s what you might say,
I guess her folks brought her up that way,
The right side of the tracks, she was born and raised
In a great big old house, full of butlers and maids.
She says no one is better than I, I know I’m just an average guy,
No football hero or smooth Don Juan,
Got empty pockets, you see I’m a poor man’s son.
Can’t give her the things that money can buy
But I’ll never, never make my baby cry,

And it’s all right, what I can’t do,
Out of sight because my heart is true,
She says baby ev’rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, ev’rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, ev’rything is alright, uptight, ah ah ah ah,
Baby, ev’rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, ev’rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” by Stevie Wonder.