Ain’t No Lovin’
TRIVIA
- This is the third track on Side Two of For Once in My Life, thus making it the ninth song on the album overall.
- This is one of about a dozen tracks from early in Stevie’s career that was co-written by his mother, Lula Mae Hardaway.
- Ain’t No Lovin’ was not released as a single.
- In 1970, saxophonist Ernie Watts (under the name The Ernie Watts Encounter) dropped an album of Stevie covers titled The Wonder Bag. And amongst the songs featured on that project is Ain’t No Lovin’.
LYRICAL ANALYSIS
During the first decade of his career, before he began wholly writing songs for himself, most of Stevie’s tracks were about being love. Ain’t No Lovin’ definitely falls into that category. More specifically, we find the vocalist so taken aback by the easiness and effective of the romance with his “sugar cookie” that now he has dedicated himself to locking her down, i.e. making her his wife, basically. Furthermore, Stevie has resolved to do so as quickly as possible, as in not to miss out on this golden opportunity.
MY PERSONAL OPINION
This song is cool, especially certain aspects of the instrumental and how Stevie hits some of his notes. But that said, I can see why Motown didn’t issue it as a single.
SOURCES
“Stevie Wonder – Ain’t No Lovin’ Lyrics”. Genius. Accessed on 21 January 2023.
“For Once in My Life (Stevie Wonder Album)”. Wikipedia. Last edited on 27 October 2023.
“The Ernie Watts Encounter – The Wonder Bag (1970, Vinyl)”. Discogs. Accessed on 21 January 2024.
johnniewalker23. “Stevie Wonder – Ain’t No Lovin'”. YouTube. 3 February 2008.
Ain’t No Lovin’ (1968)