Superstition

Song meaning of Superstition by Stevie Wonder

n an effort to broaden his audience, Stevie Wonder made his live debut of this hard-hitting blast of funk in the summer of 1972 while opening for the Rolling Stones. The former child star, now 22 years old, had written it while playing the drums and humming the other parts to himself.

Originally, Wonder wanted Jeff Beck to record the song, but Berry Gordy forbade him from doing so. It was Wonder's first Number One success in nearly a decade and the first song from Talking Book.

”A lot of people, especially Black folks, let superstition rule their lives,” Wonder said. “This is crazy. The worst thing is, the more you believe in it, the more bad things happen to you.”

Popular superstitions and their detrimental implications are discussed in the lyrics.

Superstition lyrics by Stevie Wonder

Very superstitious, writings on the wall,

Very superstitious, ladders 'bout to fall,

Thirteen-months-old baby broke the lookin' glass

Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

When you believe in things that you don't understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain't the way

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands,

Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,

Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong,

You don't wanna save me, sad is my song

When you believe in things that you don't understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain't the way, yeah, yeah

Very superstitious, nothin' more to say,

Very superstitious, the devil's on his way,

Thirteen-months-old baby broke the lookin' glass,

Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past

When you believe in things that you don't understand,

Then you suffer, superstition ain't the way, no, no, no