Stevland Hardaway Morris (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins; May 13, 1950), known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. A child prodigy, he became one of the most creative and loved musical performers of the late 20th century. Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11 and has continued to perform and record for Motown as of the early 2010s. He has been blind since shortly after birth.
Among Wonder's works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You"; and albums such as Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He has recorded more than 30 U.S. top ten hits and received 25 Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the top 60 best-selling music artists. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2013, Billboard magazine released a list of the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 55th anniversary, with Wonder at number six.
"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles charts, and reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, his joint biggest hit there at the time. Billboard ranked it as the No. 18 song of 1977.
The song was written in tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Wonder re-recorded the song for the 1995 live album Natural Wonder.
Wonder wrote the song as a tribute to Duke Ellington, a bandleader and jazz pianist who had an influence on him as a musician. Wonder had already experienced the death of two of his idols (Dinah Washington and Wes Montgomery) after attempting to collaborate with them.
After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation." Later tributes included "Master Blaster" in 1980 (dedicated to Bob Marley) and "Happy Birthday", which pleaded for commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday.
Into each life there comes a time
When you must pay your lovers' dues
Breakin' out in a cold sweat
Cause you've been rightfully accused
I'm not such a strong man
That love can't make me weak
You're walkin' out the door
And it's hurting me so deep, so deep
And I'm sorry
Sorry that I made you cry
Sorry, sorry that I told you lies
I'm sorry, sorry the way we fuss and fight
I'm sorry, sorry cause now you're
saying goodbye to me
Every young boy will grow up
To then become a man
Then the difference from wrong and right
He clearly understands
I'm not such a big man
That I can't break down in tears
Cause my whole body went into shock
When you told me you were out of here! Out of here!
And I'm sorry
Sorry that I made you cry
Sorry, sorry that I told you lies
I'm sorry, sorry the way we fuss and fight
I'm sorry, sorry cause now you're saying
goodbye to me, to me
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, that I ever made you cry
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, that I ever told you lies
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, sorry the way we fuss and fight
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, so sorry
If you added up all the good times
And compared them with the bad
You'd realize that our love
Was the best you ever had
I'm not such a proud man
That I won't cop a plea
See me baby girl, I'm on my knees
Beggin please, baby please, baby please, oh yeah
I'm sorry, sorry that I made you cry
Sorry, sorry that I told you lies
I'm sorry, I'm sorry the way we fuss and fight
I'm sorry, sorry cause now you're
saying goodbye to me, me baby, me baby, me baby
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, that I ever told you lies
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, that I ever made you cry
I'm sorry baby, that I ever did it to you
I'm sorry baby, sorry the way we fuss and fight
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry, sorry,