Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
Composer * Stevie Wonder
Produced & Arranged * Stevie Wonder
Musicians * Buzzy Feiton: Guitar Solo, Stevie Wonder: all instruments
The 70's were beginning and Stevie Wonder was in the process of separating with Syreeta Wright, with whom he had been married for 18 months. From there came one of the most beautiful heartbreak songs ever composed. It belongs to his album Music of my Mind, and it was his first single.
We are talking about of "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You), a serene and intropective song that talks about his relationship with Syreeta. It is divided into two very different parts, creating its own identity outside of the Motown sound.
The first -Superwoman- starts off with a synth sound that gives a feeling of ambient buoyancy. Talking about "Mary" -which is really Rita (Syreeta's birth name)- who wants to leave her old life to become a movie star. In the lyrics we can hear "Mary wants to be a superwoman and try to boss the bull around". With the bull he refers to himself, since "Bull" is how Stevie identifies himself by his zodiac sign -Taurus- and as he later named his production company. It's the rejection oto a dominant, or very independent woman, and in turn an attempt to reach an understanding with her.
The second part -Where Were You When I Needed You- starts with a transition where the sensation of buoyancy immerses you in an ethereal space, meeting us to a Stevie pain filled over and over again wondering over and over again "
Where Where You When I Needed You?", and why hasn't she returned as soon as he expected, using the seasons as metaphors. This part could be considered a reworking of his previous work on Where I'm Coming From with the song "
Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer".
A song full of feelings where Stevie plays practically all the instruments, and as always, interpreted in a masterful way. A song that talks about the relationship with a woman who marked him for life -
Syreeta- and that despite his separation, he emotionally continued with a deep friendship until his death after a period of fighting against cancer in 2004.
Video
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
Superwoman with Mary J. Blige
Lyrics
Mary wants to be a superwoman
But is that really in her head
But I just want to live each day to love her
for what she is
Mary wants to be another movie star
But is that really in her mind
And all the things she wants to be
She needs to leave behind
But, very well, I believe I know you-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, and I think I can face-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can cope with everything going through your head
Mary wants to be a superwoman
And try to boss the bull around
But does she really think that she will get by with a dream
My woman want to be a superwoman
And I just had to say good-bye
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
But, very well, I believe I know you
Very well wish that you knew me too
Very well, And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, think that I know you too
Very well, wish you knew me like I know you
Very well, but I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Your filthy head
Very well, dum dum da, dum dum da
Very well, wish you knew me too
Very well, And I wish I could think of everything going through your head
Very well, dum dum da, dum da, dum da
dum dum da, dum da, very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
When the summer came you were not around
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
When the winter came you went further south
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
When the winter came you were not around
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
Oh I need you baby, I need you baby
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed,
But tomorrow will reflect love's past oh
Spring will fill the air and you will come around,
Well is it summer love that will let me down,
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Right now, right now, right now
Where were you when I needed you last winter, my dear
I need you baby, I need you baby, I need you baby
Oh, Where were you when I needed you last winter, last winter
Yea, Need you Baby, need you, need you baby,
Oh, you want me too need you baby
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
