King, Wonder, and Darker Still

Back in 1980, I saw Stevie Wonder in concert in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was a magical show. Stevland Morris performed for 2.5 hours — seemingly covering nothing but Number Ones. Then, for his final encore, he did “Happy Birthday” — his song honouring Martin Luther King, Jr.

He tore the roof off.

I can still see the magical mayhem. It’s one of those moments beyond time and understanding. Stevie’s campaign was omnipresent in those days.

Today, we (as a nation) spend much of our time tearing apart the reps of honourable, though sinful, men. We’ve even dissed most of our founding fathers. We are an ungrateful lot. It seems we’ve lost the ability — even the will — to pay respect. In our current society, high-teched and sex-soaked, we’ve lost sight of ourselves, our struggle, others.

Perhaps a time to love will come again.

Back in 1980, I knew — half way through Stevie’s 20-minute King tribute — that the time had come. It came, literally, right then, right there. It wasn’t a local thing, confined to the Greensboro Coliseum. It just happened to all come together at that very moment, during that show, that song. The people cried out, with happy voices, singing the praises of a fallen leader and hero, a man with a dream.

At the end of the show, black folks and white folks were ecstatic. Together. All smiles. Energized.

We’d come a long way.

We’ve a long — long — way to go.

You know it doesn’t make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
‘Cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I’m sure you will agree
It couldn’t fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party on the day you came to be

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition
Because it should never be
Just because some cannot see
The dream as clear as he
That they should make it become an illusion
And we all know everything
That he stood for time will bring
For in peace our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

Bridge
Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
all throughout the world

The time is overdue
For people like me and you
You know the way to truth
Is love and unity to all God’s children
It should be a great event
And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died for the oneness of
all people
So let us all begin
We know that love can win
Let it out don’t hold it in
Sing it loud as you can

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(4x)

(Background Stevie)
Happy birthday Ooh yeah
Happy birthday,
To you

We know the key to unity of all
People
Is in the dream that you had so
Long ago
That lives in all of the hearts
Of people
That believe in unity
We’ll make the dream become
A reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so