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Stevie Wonder — I Believe
Album: Talking Book
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1487









Released: 1972
Length: 4:47
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Shattered dreams, worthless years,
Here am I encased inside a hollow shell,
Life began, then was done,
Now I stare into a cold and empty well.

The many sounds that meet our ears, the sights our eyes behold,
Will open up our merging hearts,
And feed our empty souls.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever.

Without despair we will share,
And the joys of caring will not be replaced,
What has been must never end
And with the strength we have won't be erased,
When the truths of love are planted firm,
They won't be hard to find,
And the words of love I speak to you will echo in your mind.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever.

I'm so glad that I found someone to believe in again,
I'm so glad that I found someone to believe in again.

God surely answered my prayer,
God surely answered by prayer,
You know God surely answered my prayer,
You know God surely answered my prayer,
God always will answer your prayers,
Believe in one who will answer my prayer,
Thank you God.

Come on, let's fall in love,
You're the woman I've been waiting for,
Come on, let's fall in love,
You're the girl that I really adore,
Come on, let's fall in love...
Comments (134)add comment
Wow!  I was a MUCH younger man when I first listened to this album - single and sowing my seeds, so to speak.  I liked it enough to buy it, even though I was a cash-strapped student.  
50 years later, and married for over 40 of those years,  I hear this song being played and I melt into the lyrics.  In my world that makes this song a classic.
wouldn’t have heard this if I weren’t listening to RP - amazing funk and even more respect for Stevie Wonder
One of the greatest and funkiest outros I have ever heard.  Stevie has given us all so much meaning and joy.
Was Stevie speaking of his first, second, or third wife, or that one-night stand?
genius
How can you not dance to this?
Too much "wailing" for me.
Stevie the prince of melody
Man, I loved this disc and this song for so long. Thanks for playing.

Bonus Fact: the cover of this album has braille on it, always thought that was cool.
everytime is a good time for stevie
 Emwolb wrote:
I still like Frampton's Camel version best
 
I've been listening to this song for 40 years... never knew it was covered... I'll have to look into this.
Tough one to rate.  Gonna have to listen to it for another forty years.

 
Bleh!
Sorry Stevie.  This one's a no.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Uugghh! Another example of an outstanding song nearly - but not quite - ruined by the wedding industrial complex. This and the "Wonderful World" cover by the poor, unfortunately obese Hawaiian man who ate himself to death. Who wants to add to this list?
 

Yuk, yuk, yuk...  "Wedding Industrial Complex". Perhaps we are taking this too seriously.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Uugghh! Another example of an outstanding song nearly - but not quite - ruined by the wedding industrial complex. This and the "Wonderful World" cover by the poor, unfortunately obese Hawaiian man who ate himself to death. Who wants to add to this list?
 
You must be Best Man or Number 1 Guest for countless matrimonials. "Oh, we have to invite Sasha! He loves weddings! And he knows just the right music! He can DJ!" 

The Awful Truth about your hatred of nuptials:

 Tabloid Headline: "Best Man Left Bleeding After Being Hit in Head By Flying Dildo"

No wonder you fled Australia. 
(Where did that dildo come from, Sasha?)
 


"...the poor, unfortunately obese Hawaiian man who ate himself to death." {#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Notworthy} 

The icing on the cake. I'm sure Israel KamakawiwoÊ»ole wouldn't mind your description of him at all...
 LPCity wrote:


 

 
 
Soothing -- takes me back to my youth..
I still like Frampton's Camel version best
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
{#Music}
I'll fall in love with you Stevie, circa '72 with that fringed vest and no shirt underneath you used to wear.

 DaveInVA wrote:
I like Art Garfunkels cover of this but the original is still the best..
 
Wow, I thought I might be the only person ever to have heard that. It's quite dreamy compared to this but I have to say, Art did good. I still prefer this, but then I heard this first. 
 sirdroseph wrote:


True, but Elton John, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and I am sure I am leaving out some others pulled off this feat as well.
 
I will grant you that, Sir.
i believe, too.
 GirlFriday wrote:

I can't listen to this song without thinking of "High Fidelity".

 
+1. The first time I became aware of it. Great soundtrack!
Say, that's a nice brown velvet Kaftan Stevie is wearing. Where can I get me one of those?
I heard Art's version first from an album I was given as a gift years ago...didn't even realize it was Stevie's tune. I love them both, but have a soft spot for Art's version. Lovely tune.

{#Good-vibes}

 
DaveInVA wrote:
I like Art Garfunkels cover of this but the original is still the best..
 


 On_The_Beach wrote:
You'd think they could have found a grassy meadow (or?) for the cover pic. I mean really, "Sit here in the rocks and dirt Stevie, and we'll snap a few shots for the cover. Time is money!" (OK, so maybe they're making a statement of some sort.) Great album nonetheless.
 
I believe this is a beach. Those aren't sea oats in the background, but they have a maritime look about them. 

cheeeeezzzzzzyyyyyy
 
Hard to rate this less than a 9 and very tempting to rate it a 10! A classic by one of the most gifted singers of the past 50 years.
Hearing Stevie Wonder's stuff when I was a kid, I couldn't fully appreciate how this was much more than just a bunch of catchy pop tunes.  There's a lot of music from the seventies that's just achingly dreadful to listen to now, but I'm glad to say that my affection for his work keeps growing.
You'd think they could have found a grassy meadow (or?) for the cover pic. I mean really, "Sit here in the rocks and dirt Stevie, and we'll snap a few shots for the cover. Time is money!" (OK, so maybe they're making a statement of some sort.) Great album nonetheless.


Uugghh! Another example of an outstanding song nearly - but not quite - ruined by the wedding industrial complex. This and the "Wonderful World" cover by the poor, unfortunately obese Hawaiian man who ate himself to death. Who wants to add to this list?
 BKardon wrote:

IMO, two of the best streaks of albums come from Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones.  Each had 4 or 5 albums in a row that are still untouchable to this day.

 

True, but Elton John, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and I am sure I am leaving out some others pulled off this feat as well.
...makes me tear up every time I hear it, and you can't really give a song higher praise than that. I'm not that crazy about the funked-up ending, actually - feel it diminishes the overall effect. But his singing is so strong here. Great, great love song.
I like Art Garfunkels cover of this but the original is still the best..
 bachbeet wrote:
Great song.  Great album.  Stevie had a pretty long period there where just about everything he put out was high quality.  Both critically acclaimed and popular.
 
IMO, two of the best streaks of albums come from Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones.  Each had 4 or 5 albums in a row that are still untouchable to this day.

Great song.  Great album.  Stevie had a pretty long period there where just about everything he put out was high quality.  Both critically acclaimed and popular.
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Yes, one of the best songs of Stevie, i believe.
 
Its probably my favorite Stevie song.  I am not a huge SW fan, but I do enjoy this one and a few others.
Just clicked in to rate this, and was appalled to find I gave it a lowly 9 at some point! Quickly corrected to the more appropriate 10. :)
Stevie...I believe I fell in love with you forever.
 

Yes, one of the best songs of Stevie, i believe.


Not only a great composer, but In my opinion one of the finest and most fluid singers of the last 30 years.
Magnificent
Stevie just nearing his peak. Brilliant. Btw for the funk lovers, check out Maybe Your Baby off this album
10+.
For those of you that use "Mini-lyrics" (https://www.crintsoft.com/) with winamp or iTunes, download the lrc file. it makes it easier to follow the mutilayered vocals at the end. It's beautiful.
not a big Stevie fan, but this is hard not to love - great hook. 
I think I posted this story somewhere else too... but its such a good one...

Friend of mine who is a flight attendant was on a plane Stevie Wonder was flying on back in the 1980's.  He had bought the entire first-class section of the plane, under the pseudonym "Mr. Fudge."  At some point during the flight, one of Stevie's entourage got... erm... familiar with Mr. Wonder.  Here's my friend's imitation of her flight-attendant college after the flight:

"I saw Stevie Wonder get a blow job!  I saw Stevie Wonder get a blow job!  Stevie Wonder didn't see Stevie Wonder get a blow job... but I saw Stevie Wonder get a blow job!"


Starts off like something from Quadrophenia.
i'd love to hear more of Stevie from this era on the radio, especially this album and Innvervisions, both of which I played till the grooves burned out and the disc started skipping................back in the day
RAD!
I always get weepy when I hear this one... whether not there is someone special in my life at the time I hear it or not. Love this.
 lovemydog wrote:
One of my favorite Stevie songs...in fact, probably my favorite!

{#Hearteyes}
 
I'm with you.
Probably because it hardly gets played on FM radio.

 GirlFriday wrote:

I can't listen to this song without thinking of "High Fidelity".

+1 Possibly the most powerful/hilarious/touching/overall genius closing-credit music selection ever. (I laughed, I cried.)

    I don't.
 jyoull wrote:
wow, i thought my streamer had switched itself to "Soft hits Q98 - the soft, inoffensive, empty music of your life. Soft office music for soft people. Hear it on the Q." Stevie Wonder is a cool guy but that doesn't mean his music is all automatically good or even listenable.

 
True....and true of any artist in any age.  But this is a wonderful composition and beautifully performed.

 Pyro wrote:
8 ==> 9

the man is a genius
 
Absolutely!!  Incredibly creative.

 ydjb wrote:
say it loud!
i'm black and i'm proud!

just felt that come to me...saw His Wonderment in mid 70's in Dayton's O'Hare sp? Arena, not sure if Songs in the Key of Life was out yet - the show was spectacular, i think LaBelle (although an aging memory may be at work here) was the warmup band, also terriffic!

Clearly his most fertile period creatively, Talking Books, Innervisions......ah mammaries, like the ones, oh never mind

 

I think you mean Hara Arena.
 deadmessengers wrote:
The body of work Stevie Wonder put out around the time of this album is absolutely incomparable. 
 
{#High-five}  so true

Innervisions
Talking Book
Fulfillingness First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life (his finest, IMHO)

8 ==> 9

the man is a genius
 bizon wrote:
Our wedding song.
 
Great choice!

Our wedding song.
The body of work Stevie Wonder put out around the time of this album is absolutely incomparable. 
only had three Stevie albums growing up, so i'm getting exposed to more Stevie than ever on this station and i'm lovin it!
 jyoull wrote:
Stevie Wonder is a cool guy but that doesn't mean his music is all automatically good or even listenable.

 
Well, this is the same guy who inexplicably did "Part-Time Lover," so I must concur to that extent.

Love this song, though.


One of my favorite Stevie songs...in fact, probably my favorite!

{#Hearteyes}
 GirlFriday wrote:

I can't listen to this song without thinking of "High Fidelity".


 

This is my favorite song from that movie! I've even played it on my own show.
everything comes to a stop when Stevie starts to sing
say it loud!
i'm black and i'm proud!

just felt that come to me...saw His Wonderment in mid 70's in Dayton's O'Hare sp? Arena, not sure if Songs in the Key of Life was out yet - the show was spectacular, i think LaBelle (although an aging memory may be at work here) was the warmup band, also terriffic!

Clearly his most fertile period creatively, Talking Books, Innervisions......ah mammaries, like the ones, oh never mind

Boy, what a set this is:

CRACKER: "someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. someday, you're gonna shine. "

followed by

STEVIE WONDER: 'i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe, i believe"


guess i don't have the Stevie gene.  He does craft some pretty good hooks, but a lot of his stuff sounds dated/trendy.   The compositions are too loose, kind of all over the place, and musically it sounds like it's missing something.  It sounds as if he's playing all the instruments in the band, and all the musical ideas are his own?  Perhaps if he collaberated more?

I can't listen to this song without thinking of "High Fidelity".


 jyoull wrote:
wow, i thought my streamer had switched itself to "Soft hits Q98 - the soft, inoffensive, empty music of your life. Soft office music for soft people. Hear it on the Q."

Stevie Wonder is a cool guy but that doesn't mean his music is all automatically good or even listenable.

 
I concur. I don't need to ever hear any track from this release, or any other of Stevie's, the rest of my life. Occasionally I like to hear Fingertips, but only when I'm feeling nostalgic for the early '60s and am playing my Top 40—'57 to '67 mix.

Oh hey - it's the final title sequence music for the film "High Fidelity". Cool!
(when I fall in love it will be forever)

Shattered dreams, worthless years,
Here am I encased inside a hollow shell,
Life began, then was done,
Now I stare into a cold and empty well.

The many sounds that meet our ears, the sights our eyes behold,
Will open up our merging hearts,
And feed our empty souls.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever.

Without despair we will share,
And the joys of caring will not be replaced,
What has been must never end
And with the strength we have wont be erased,
When the truths of love are planted firm,
They wont be hard to find,
And the words of love I speak to you will echo in your mind.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever.

I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever.

Im so glad that I found someone to believe in again,
Im so glad that I found someone to believe in again.

God surely answered my prayer,
God surely answered by prayer,
You know God surely answered my prayer,
You know God surely answered my prayer,
God always will answer your prayers,
Believe in one who will answer my prayer,
Thank you god.

Come on, lets fall in love,
Youre the woman Ive been waiting for,
Come on, lets fall in love,
Youre the girl that I really adore,
Come on, lets fall in love... etc.

** 9 **


 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
my favorite little stevie song!
 
I finally figured out why...

This isn't played to death by FM radio.

we believe.....-   9.
zogma" I believe your mammy and pappy should have worn chastity belts...permamently...and YES he Is an Icon...something you will never be Probably not a bad idea to use a spell checker if you're going to be a critic. And let's get rid of those offensive pray icons! They make me want to
Oh my . . . Stevie. Say what you will, young'ens. This man's a living legend. Thanks for the trip back in time, Bill.
rtrudeau wrote:
I believe that RP would be a better place without the awful barf icon. Please, Bill, make it so. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that this is the kind of person that has CAPS LOCK PERMENANTLY ENGAGED ON THEIR KEYBOARD.
Probably not a bad idea to use a spell checker if you're going to be a critic. And let's get rid of those offensive pray icons! They make me want to
wow, i thought my streamer had switched itself to "Soft hits Q98 - the soft, inoffensive, empty music of your life. Soft office music for soft people. Hear it on the Q." Stevie Wonder is a cool guy but that doesn't mean his music is all automatically good or even listenable.
Hannio wrote:
You can blame Mr. Andesitic below for the screen screwup.
I believe that RP would be a better place without the awful barf icon. Please, Bill, make it so. Seriously, though, if someone vomited that many times they'd be dead. Now we're onto something! Why would someone vomit all over Stevie Freakin' Wonder in the first place? Talking Book is a seminal album and I Believe is one of the best songs on the album. Poor musical taste aside, why on earth was it necessary to use, what was it, 200 vomit icons? One wouldn't get the point across? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that this is the kind of person that has CAPS LOCK PERMENANTLY ENGAGED ON THEIR KEYBOARD. Here's another point: format your posts, dumbass. There's this great thing called "Enter." It's right there, about a half an inch to the right of your right paw. If you really feel compelled to REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT yourself so engagingly (note: that was sarcasm), at least use the "Enter" key to put a break in there once in a while. That will help prevent the ridiculously wide screen you inflicted upon us here. Of course, that will also make it easier for the rest of us to simply scroll past your garbage, but that's something else entirely.
Frawg wrote:
The rest of the songs on this album are pretty incredible... as is this period of his career.
Ahh, the '70s: a time of childlike innocence followed by a drug induced haze... or was it a drug induce childlike innocence, I never quite understood which came first.
Enough already!! We get it. You believe when you fall in love, it will be forever. Gawd, what mindless drivel!!!!
lathyris wrote:
This is froooo-teeee. It's also screwing up my screen. WTF?
You can blame Mr. Andesitic below for the screen screwup.
I think he believes if he falls in love it might be forever ... enough already
I hadn't realized Stevie wrote this song. I've always heard the Art Garfunkel version. I actually like the Art Garfunkel version better... but mainly because I am much more familiar with hit. The rest of the songs on this album are pretty incredible... as is this period of his career. Hard to argue with this sequence: 1972 - Talking Book (the album this tune is on) 1973 - Innervisions 1974 - Fulfillingness' First Finale 1976 - Songs in the Key of Life An amazing sequence... s
aharamanx wrote:
Happy to say I still own this LP - I bought it when it came out. It was bleedin' excellent then.....and it still is. Many thanks to the uploader.
I must have looked at this album cover for hours when I was young. I loved his look at the time, so refreshingly different from all us white people in my suburb. In regards to those who dislike the length and "sameness" of this song - man, don't you have any soul? Almost all religions have chants for a reason. The best part of the song was just cut off, which I would not expect of RP.
Thank you thank you thank you
thewiseking wrote:
yes, there was a time when Stevie's music was sublime.
And this song may be the best evidence of that time.
yes, there was a time when Stevie's music was sublime.
Had to look who it was, then went of couse...
maxgruv wrote:
Too much Stevie is never enough.
When it comes to this song, any amount is too much.
This is froooo-teeee. It's also screwing up my screen. WTF?
radiozep wrote:
It was this one, the original, as Cusack kicked in his superbly mixed tape... Ferris
Thank you! Now I can stop obsessing over that half-memory and look for another . . . Great song, though.
winter wrote:
I'm such a sucker for sap sometimes. Somebody covered this for a movie soundtrack - or was it this, the original, over the end of "High Fidelity"? Someone help a forgetful old fogey out with this. Anyone? Bueller?
It was this one, the original, as Cusack kicked in his superbly mixed tape... Ferris
I'm such a sucker for sap sometimes. Somebody covered this for a movie soundtrack - or was it this, the original, over the end of "High Fidelity"? Someone help a forgetful old fogey out with this. Anyone? Bueller?
Pyro wrote:
I loved it when Stevie played for the Prez and Ms. Bush and when Dubyah thought he had "caught Stevie's eye", WAVED at him. What a dork!
A true story, apart from the fact that it didn't happen (Snopes link).
diane wrote:
Nice tune, until the end, which goes on, and on, and on, and on, etc...
Yeah, kinda goes from nice, romantic, let's enjoy a nice glass of wine, to ba-bee-bop 70's porno music.
Clair Marlo on Let It Go (Sheffield Labs) does a gorgeous cover of this.
Too much Stevie is never enough.
andesitic wrote:
Get well soon.
I loved it when Stevie played for the Prez and Ms. Bush and when Dubyah thought he had "caught Stevie's eye", WAVED at him. What a dork!
diane wrote:
Nice tune, until the end, which goes on, and on, and on, and on, etc...
Agreed, if you define "the end" as everything after the first bar. . . .
ebhp wrote:
It's a shame that a genius like Stevie is basically a forgotten entity at this point in his career. His work ranged from the ridiculously funky to the sublimely beautiful like this tune. I hope he has a rebirth before it gets too late. ebhp
It probably is too late.....but those of us who have known and have loved his vast range of music know that he is still a wonder....always a pleasure!
trekhead wrote:
I can't help but wonder if today's R&B singers are all trying to emulate Mr. Wonder, don't know if that's good or bad . He is unique, imitating him crowds the airwaves unnecessarily, but apparently there is an audience. Props for Stevie, ears choked by imitators.
i agree. sometimes i hear the "new urban" style singers and wonder why their cheesy sound sounds so familiar. they are bastardizing stevie wonder! kinda like how devo was cool, but how they unwittingly spawned a million cheesy imitators called "new wave" sounding 80's-style bands. devo only meant for that sound to be part of their act, which was supposed to be humorous and satirical. okay, my analogy is less than perfect. stevie is a genius who got imitated while devo was a sillly fun band that got imitated. i'm just saying that cool musical thangs sometimes have unintended cultural consequences... hey bill! how's about some devo?
I can't help but wonder if today's R&B singers are all trying to emulate Mr. Wonder, don't know if that's good or bad . He is unique, imitating him crowds the airwaves unnecessarily, but apparently there is an audience. Props for Stevie, ears choked by imitators.
The Art Garfunkel version of this song is vastly superior... s
my favorite little stevie song!
It's a shame that a genius like Stevie is basically a forgotten entity at this point in his career. His work ranged from the ridiculously funky to the sublimely beautiful like this tune. I hope he has a rebirth before it gets too late. ebhp
Nice tune, until the end, which goes on, and on, and on, and on, etc...
Sweet song, but I wish the funky part at the end was jammed out a bit more.
fncll wrote:
The only Stevie album you need to have!
er...how about Music of My Mind, Innervisions, Fullfillingness First Finale, Songs in the key of Life as well then?
It makes my teeth hurt. But that's not necessarily an insult to the song.
MikeWC wrote:
Question: is it all right to hold a formerly great artist responsible for his latter day sins? Subquestion: is it better to burn out, or fade away?
Oh wait - is she in a coma?
This is the first album that I ever bought, and it still has deep memories and feelings for me, so exuse me for loving it. This is Stevie's escape music, having been freed from his long contract and allowed to freely express himself. Check out his picture on the cover, and see a young man who knows who he is, and what he wants to do. Every song on here is a gem, and if you only have one album from Stevie, then you must have this one, as it has the heart and soul of FUNK in it. Stevie was the first to use a Kurzweil keyboard. He was amazing and talented and a visionary, and he spoke from the heart on this album. Listen to some other tracks from this album, and see if you don't agree.
BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING.