Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)

First performance: 06/12/1980


Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 1 time at full and once as a snippet:
 
 
1989-01-18 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY 
 
Springsteen attends the fourth Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremonies. The night's inductees are Dion, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Phil Spector, plus The Ink Spots, Bessie Smith, and The Soul Stirrers in the Early Influences category. As had been the case in January 1987 (when Bruce inducted Roy Orbison and performed) and January 1988 (when Bruce inducted Bob Dylan and performed) Springsteen took the stage, joining in the all-star jam on most of the songs and sings lead on "Crying", dedicated to Roy Orbison, who had passed away only a few weeks earlier. Bruce plays guitar on all songs, plus tambourine on "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". The all-star band includes, along with Bruce, most of The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Mick Taylor), most of The Temptations (Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams), Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Little Richard, Pete Townshend, Dion, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Anita Baker, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Bobby Womack, Al Green, Ben E. King, Bobby McFerrin, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Foreigner's Mick Jones, and more. Bruce attended with Patti Scialfa and, according to some reports, former Castiles member George Theiss attended. Former E Streeter Band member Vini Lopez was definitely there and took part in the show. He later recalled "They had the whole induction ceremony and four hours later, Bill Graham is on stage and he's pulling people out of the audience. Bruce comes up to me and says, "You see that other drum set up there? " Next thing you know, I was up there. I played for an hour and a half with those guys. Paul Simon, Steve Wonder. It was cool. Mick Jagger was leaning on my shoulder, singing 'Honky Tonk Woman' with Tina Turner."

Songinfo

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)" is a 1965 hit single recorded by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" was the first Stevie Wonder hit single to be co-written by the artist.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

1973-03-29 - KEYSTONE HALL, KUTZTOWN STATE COLLEGE, KUTZTOWN, PA
 
Bruce opens for Stevie Wonder at Kutztown State College. One show, triple bill held in the sold out 2,500 seat Keystone Hall as part of the school's 'Black Cultures Weekend'. Bruce and the boys (performing a 60-minute set) opened for headliner Stevie Wonder, who performed a two-hour show. 
 
 
 
 
  

Lyrics

Baby, everything is all right
Uptight, out of sight
Baby, everything is all right
Uptight, out of sight
I'm a poorman's son from across the railroad tracks
The only shirt I own is hangin' on my back
But I'm the envy of every single guy
Since I'm the apple of my girl's eye
When we go out stepping on the town
For a while my money's low and my suit's out of style
But it's all right if my clothes aren't new
Out of sight because my heart is true
She says baby everything is all right
Uptight, out of sight
Baby, everything is all right
Uptight, clean out of sight
Baby, everything is all right
Uptight, out of sight
I'm a pearl of a girl
I guess that's what you might say
I guess her folks brought her up that way
The right side of the tracks
She was born and raised
In a great big old house full of butlers and maids
She says give her the things
That money can buy but I'll never
Never never make my baby cry
And it's all right
What if I can't do
Out of sight because my heart is true
She says baby everyt¬hing is all right
Uptight, clean out of sight
Baby, everything is all right
Uptight, clean out of sight
No one is better than I
I know I'm just an average guy
No footfall hero or smooth Don Juan
Got empty pockets
You see I'm a poor man's son