Today’s classic song of the day is “As” by Stevie Wonder, from his legendary Songs in the Key of Life album. Released as a single in October of 1977, “As” peaked at just #36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts.
A few weeks ago I posted Stevie’s “I Wish” as the classic song of the day. At the time, I wrote in detail about Mr. Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life and asked readers to tell me their favorite tracks from that album. Perhaps not surprisingly, more than a hundred of you responded, listing favorites such as “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” “Saturn,” “Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call),” “Another Star,” “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” “Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing,” “Sir Duke,” “Contusion,” “Pastime Paradise,” “Ordinary Pain,” “Joy Inside My Tears,” “Summer Soft,” and “Village Ghetto Land”—practically every track on that double+ album was somebody’s favorite.
Among all those tracks, however, one leading favorite emerged. “As” was track three on side four, the second LP in the set. At 7:09, it’s one of the longest tracks on the album; only “Black Man” and “Another Star” were longer. Stevie wrote it, of course, and sang and played Fender Rhodes electric piano. Other musicians on the track included Herbie Hancock, trading licks with Stevie on Fender Rhodes; Dean Parks on guitar; Nathan Watts on bass; and Gerry Brown on drums. Mary Lee Whitney and Yolanda Simmons sang backup.
“As” is about the singer’s love for his partner. As the lyrics exclaim:
Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I’ll be loving you always
One could also interpret these lyrics as Stevie’s love for humanity. Go back and read them again, it fits.
And how much does Stevie show his love?
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear mother nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you
In other words, always.
By the way, in case you’re wondering, my own personal favorite song from Songs in the of Life is… all of them. There are just too many great songs to choose a single favorite. This is an album I can put on at any time and listen to it start to finish, no skips. There aren’t many albums like that.
