SUPERSTITION
Written by:  Stevie Wonder
Originally recorded by:  Stevie Wonder



Very superstitious....
Writing on the wall
Very superstitious....
Ladder's 'bout to fall
Thirteen month old baby....
Broke that looking glass
Seven years of bad luck....
Good things in the 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....
Get all that you can
Keep me in a daydream....
Keep me going strong
You don't want to save me....
Sad is my song

When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer....
Superstition ain't the way.

Very superstitious....
Nothing more to say
Very superstitious....
Devil's on his way
Thirteen month old baby....
Broke that looking glass
Seven years of bad luck....
Good things in the past

When you believe in things that you don't understand
You will suffer....
Superstition ain't the way.

DOCUMENTATION

Wonder wrote this about the dangers of believing in superstitions. 
This was intended for Jeff Beck. Wonder played all instruments on the album except horns and guitars, and Beck was brought in to play some guitar parts in exchange for a song. At one of the sessions, Stevie came up with the riff and wrote some lyrics, and they recorded a rough version of the song that day for Beck. It took Beck a while to record the song, and by the time he released it, Wonder's version had been out for a month and was a huge hit. Beck felt shortchanged, and made some statements in the press that Wonder didn't appreciate. In 1975, Beck released an instrumental version of Wonder's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" on his album Blow By Blow. The album was a hit and helped solidify Beck's reputation as an elite guitarist. 



Other performers who have covered Superstition:
Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn, 

Rick has performed this song at the Tucson benefit that he hosted in the late 90's (with both of his sons on stage)
 in Branson, MO on 8/30/03, and at the Little Kids Rock Benefit in San Francisco on 3/23/05.

 

 

Footnote - background photo was taken in Branson, MO on 8/30/03 by Renata Hearn during the performance of this song.