AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Happy birthday song stevie wonder chorus3/21/2024 ![]() ![]() Until recess when it was time to play with Jody and Karen. And the next day, I went to school filled with hate. It is probably one of the saddest moments in my life. ![]() My mom explained, "they killed him." When I asked who "they" were, she told me, "White people killed him because they didn't like what he was trying to do for black people and for the country." I didn't know what that meant, so I asked for more of an explanation. This particular year, as we were twirling around singing the song, I asked, "Where is Martin Luther King now, Mother?" My mom would pick me up and dance with me in her arms. But in the Smith household, there were always two constants on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday: no one went to school or work, and the record player had Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" album blaring, with me going over to replay "Happy Birthday" again and again. And by the time I was in first grade, I was used to a very meaningful tradition in my family.Īt this point in time, MLK Day was not yet recognized as a national holiday. My brother and I knew about Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan, even. Generations just copying tradition without knowing the origin. It wasn't until I asked a group of our student-athletes here at Cal (who were more "woke" than most) if they knew who the song was intended for, that I understood the disconnect. We'll appease people and sing the traditional version all the way through, then immediately bust out in the more enthusiastic rendition Stevie released in 1980.įor a long time, I thought every black person knew the meaning behind the song. A#m Happy birth-day, G# F#/ G# Happy birth-da.y.The Stevie Wonder version of "Happy Birthday" is very popular in the Black community. A#m Happy birth-day, G# F#/ G# Happy birth-da.y. B We'll make the dream, Become a reality A#m I know we will, G# F#/ G# Because our hearts tell us so. (Spoken): C# We know the key, B To unity of all people, Is in the dream that, A#m You had so long ago, That lives in all, G# F#/ G# Of the hearts of people, C# That believe in unity. ![]() C# F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F# C# Happy birth-day. Chorus 4: C# F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F# C# Happy birth-day. *KEY CHANGE* - Chorus 3: C# F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F#/ C#, C# Happy birthday to you, F# C# Happy birth-day. F Let it out don't hold it in, F/G F#/ G# Sing it loud as you can. Bridge 3: F So let us all begin, G We know that love can win. C F/C, C It should be a great event, Bb Eb, Bb And the whole day should be spent, Am Em, Am In full remembrance, G Of those who lived and died, F/G For the oneness of all people. Middle 8: Dm7 Am7 Why has there never been a holiday, Dm7 Where peace is celebrated, G# A# C All through-out the wo-rld? Verse 3: C F/C, C The time is overdue, Bb Eb, Bb For pe-ople like me and you, Am Em, Am Who know the way to truth G F/G Is love and unity to all God's children. C F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F C Happy birth-day. Chorus 2: C F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F C Happy birth-day. F For in peace our hearts will sing F/G Thanks to Martin Luther King. Bridge 2: F And we all know everything, G That he stood for, time will bring. G That they should make it, F/G Be-come an illusion. C F/C, C Because it should never be, Bb Eb, Bb Just be-cause some cannot see, Am Em, Am The dream as clear as he. Verse 2: C F/C, C I just never understood, Bb Eb, Bb How a man who died for good, Am Em, Am Could not have a day that would, G F/G Be set aside for his recognition. Chorus 1: C F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F/C, C Happy birthday to you, F C Happy birth-day. Bridge 1: F And I'm sure you would agree, G What could fit more perfectly, F Than to have a world party, F/G On the day you came to be. C F/C, C 'Cos we all know in our minds, Bb Eb, Bb That there ought to be a time, Am Em, Am That we can set aside G F/G To show just how much we love you. *from 'Hotter Than July' (1980)* Intro: C F/C, C Bb Eb, Bb Am Em Am, G F/G (x2) Verse 1: C F/C, C You know it doesn't make much sense, Bb Eb, Bb There ought to be a law against Am Em Am Any-one who takes offense, G F/G At a, day in your celebration. ![]()
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |