While both began as love songs, these first new numbers in four years by the soul great have a strong multi-layered political element, calling for solidarity in times of rising racism, an election and an epidemic. With a sound that very much echoes his 1970s peak, they also herald his first new album in 15 years.
On their release yesterday, Stevie Wonder explained that Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate “was a song originally about a relationship”, but then he updated the lyrics after “thinking about where we (are) in the world and thinking about how this is the most crucial time.”
“Change is right now. We can’t put it into the hands of fate. Ain’t nobody got time to wait,” he said. “We can’t put it the hands of fate finding a cure for this dreadful virus. We got to get on our knees and pray or whatever you do.”
And with the forthcoming US presidential election, “We can’t put voting in the hands of fate. The universe is watching us. We’ve got to vote justice in and injustice out.”
Where Is Our Love Song is a song he began writing when he was just 18, but was left on the shelf for decades. Now 70, and after a kidney replacement operation, he explains why a comeback is due. “Then came this year,” he said, “with all the confusion and all the hate and all the east versus west, left versus right. It’s just a hard break.”
All proceeds from Where Is Our Love Song — which features Grammy-winning guitarist Gary Clark Jr — will benefit the charity Feeding America.
Guest rappers Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, Cordae, and Chika appear on Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate'. and Wonder. The songs will likely appear on the forthcoming EP Through the Eyes of Wonder.
[Verse 1: Rapsody]
History say don't repeat her
Many years a slave, took notes from the Peter
You should marvel at the fightin', feel like Anitta
Apologise, you denied my people
Made our death legal, we all paralegal
Gotta defend ourselves when the laws ain't equal
Cops aim lethal, death in cathedrals
Bang, bang boogie, you could die wearin' a hoodie, bow
[Verse 2: Cordae]
Alright, sometimes we gotta find our creator
If I defeated Father Time, was raised by Mother Nature
In the projects, tenement walls, sudden withdrawals
A true rebel is easy to spot the government flaws
Mass confusion, people in power commit collusion
Indoctrinated students, I'm the leader of the movement
Take lifetimes, trying to duck the school-to-prison pipeline
Disenfranchised, amazing I'm in my right mind
Create change, survive, struggle to maintain
So many lies within the campaign, a damn shame
I'm thinkin' how will we survive
When the freedom that we have's a façade? Yeah
[Verse 3: Stevie Wonder]
You say you're sick and tired of us protesting
I say, Not time enough to make a change
You say, "Just keep holdin' on"
I say No, way, 'cause we can't put it in the hands of fate
Can't put it in the hands of fate, now baby
You say that you believe in all lives matter
I say, I don't believe the fuck you do
You say, "All things in time"
I say, that's why I'm not gonna put it in the hands of fate
[Busta Rhymes & Stevie Wonder]
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
No, no, no, no
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
Can't put it in the hands of fate now, baby
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
[Chorus]
We’re gonna sing this thing tomorrow
Our hymns will sing your lullaby
But I've seen too many of our generations
Live and die for that part in the sky
[Verse 4: Stevie Wonder]
You say, "Those innocent lives should've not been taken"
And I say, "For them, it's why we take a knee"
You say, "Is that the right lane"
I say, "First Amendment everyday"
'Cause we can't put it in the hands of fate
[Chorus: Busta Rhymes & Stevie Wonder]
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
Can't put it in the hands of fate now, baby
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
No, no, no
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
We can't put it in the hands of fate now, baby
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
Come on
[Chorus]
We’re gonna sing this thing tomorrow
Our hymns will sing your lullaby
But I've seen too many of our generations
Live and die for that part in the sky
[Verse 5: CHIKA]
Yeah, we went from fields into a field
Bodies hit the ground, and so we gotta take a kneel
Mothers missin', kid's attorneys say they oughta take a deal
They determine that the prize of life is just a couple mill
And bricks are meant to build, and fires meant to light
And souls are meant to rest and living soldiers gotta fight
We don't need no politics to try to justify the plight
It's a problem of the people, it's no longer black and white
[Verse 6: Busta Rhymes]
Look
So, we ain't talkin' no more, we gettin' to it
Can't put it in the hands of fate, this how we do it
Now let me go and get with all of my people, you know I have to get
That'll show me sacrifice just like my brother Colin Kaepernick
Opportunities that I get to talk, you know I have to spit
Breonna Taylor turn in her grave, you know we have to get justice
And stay in your place, we still focused on the outcome of George Floyd case
While you out here doin' the minimal, hah
Everything about us still live by the principle
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait
[Verse 7: Stevie Wonder]
You say now you really truly get it
I say, "How much you do will let me know"
You say, "I'm so ready"
I say, "Let's do this, and not just put it in the hands of fate"
[Chorus: Busta Rhymes & Stevie Wonder]
Can't put it in the hands of fate, ain't nobody got time to wait etc …
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, where is our love song?
Where is our song of love?
Where is our song of love?
Another love song between you and me
But a song of love for all humanity
Where is our love song?
Our desperately needed song of love
Where are our words with hope?
Oh how we need those words of hope
Not the kind of hope that leaves some of us behind
But the kind of hope that lifts up all humankind
Where are our hope words?
Our desperately needed words of hope
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Guess the words we're singing
We’ll have to sing them forevermore, yeah
'Cause by our ways and actions
It's like you never heard them said before
Where is our prayer for peace
The prayer so long we yearn to release
Not just on this urban bloodstained street
But in every war-torn country
Where hate, vain, and killing feast
Where is our peace prayer?
Our desperately needed prayer for peace
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Where is, where is, our love song?
Not a love song between you and I
But a song that will test the universe to the Heaven’s eye
Where is our love song?
Our desperately needed song of love
Where is, where is, our love song? (Ohh)
Where is, where is, our love song? (In peace)
Where is, where is, our love song? (And me)
Where is, where is, our love song? (for them)
Where is, where is, our love song? (In our)
Where is, where is, our love song?
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