As Always

This week, Jim Adams has asked us to choose a song from an album credited by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as being on their list of the 200 definitive albums. After much thought, mind-changing, and deliberation, I flipped a coin & chose As, by Stevie Wonder from his album, Songs in the Key of Life.

I cannot tell you why I like this song so much. When I think about it and try to write, nothing comes out. It’s a whole jumble of feelings and memories that need to be sorted out first.

The Story

According to Wikipedia, “As” is a song written and performed by American singer and musician Stevie Wonder from his eighteenth album, Songs in the Key of Life (1976). The song was released in October 1977 by Tamla and reached number 36 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. It gets its name from the first word of its lyrics.

Wonder was injured in a car accident on August 6, 1973, and considered quitting the music industry as a result.^[1] He briefly relocated to Ghana in order to help underprivileged children and focus on humanitarian efforts but eventually made a U-turn on his musical career. During his time in Ghana, Wonder gained a new perspective on life, finding a new love for humanity and the world around him.^[2]

The song implies that the love the singer has for their partner will never diminish, as they say that they will love them “always” (the song’s main lyric) until the physically impossible becomes true. The impossible feats include: rainbows burning the stars out in the sky, oceans covering the tops of every mountain, dolphins flying, and parrots living at sea, dreaming of life and life becoming a dream, day becoming night and vice versa, trees and the seas flying away, 8×8×8 equaling 4, this day becoming the last day, the Earth turning right to left, the Earth denying itself (for the Sun), Mother Nature saying her work is through, and “until the day that you are me and I am you.”

By the most straightforward interpretation of the lyrics, this is a lover serenading his beloved. By another possible interpretation, the song expresses the lyricist’s own love for humanity. By another possible interpretation, Stevie wrote it from the perspective “As” if it were God speaking to all of humanity and/or creation.

unknown – tambourine

Stevie Wonder – lead and backing vocals, Fender Rhodes piano

Nathan Watts – bass, handclaps

Dean Parks – guitar

Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes piano, handclaps

Gerry Brown – drums

Mary Lee Whitney – backing vocals

Yolanda Simmons – backing vocals

Dave Hanson, Yolanda Simon, Josette Valentino – handclaps

The Lyrics

[Verse 1]
As around the sun, the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's the cure
You can rest your mind assure
That I'll be loving you always
As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing, will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I'll be loving you always

[Refrain]
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Always)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Always)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Always)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

[Verse 2]
Did you know that true love asks for nothing?
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day?
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
As today, I know I'm living, but tomorrow
Could make me the past, but that, I mustn't fear
For I'll know deep in my mind
The love of me I've left behind
'Cause I'll be loving you always

[Refrain]
Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Always)
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away (Always)
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four (Always)
Until the day that is the day that are no more (Did you know you're loved by somebody?)
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left (Always)
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself (I'll be loving you forever)
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through (Always)
Until the day that you are me and I am you (Always)
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Always)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Always)

[Bridge]
We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet your lifetimes that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
So make sure when you say you're in it, but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truth and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you

[Refrain]
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Loving you)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Loving you)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Loving you)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream (Be loving you)
Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Loving you)
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away (Loving you)

The Video