RELEASE DATE

28 OCTOBER 1972

ALBUM

LABEL

TAMLA / MOTOWN

WRITER

STEVIE WONDER

PRODUCER

STEVIE WONDER

CLAVINET, DRUMS, MOOG SYNTHESIZER/BASS

STEVIE WONDER

GUITAR

RAY PARKER JR.

TRIVIA

  • Stevie Wonder acted as both main vocalist and backup vocalist on this track.
  • This is the second song on the 10-track playlist of Talking Book.
  • At nearly seven minutes in length, this is by far the longest track on Talking Book.
  • According to Raphael Saadiq, this song features “sped up vocals at the end”, with Stevie being a musician who “was speeding up vocals before a lot of people”.
  • Maybe Your Baby has been formally covered by a handful of musicians, including Macy Gray.  That rendition is featured on Macy’s own full version of Talking Book, which she dropped in 2012 as a tribute album to Stevie Wonder.
  • Stevie Wonder performed this song alongside Prince in 1994.  Furthermore, it has been said that Stevie’s creative use of vocals on this track influenced Prince’s artistry later on.  Prince is also on record as having regularly covered Maybe Your Baby live throughout the years.
  • The phrase “Little Sally Walker”, as found in the bridge, is reportedly derived from a children’s game/song which itself is called “Little Sally Walker”.
  • This track makes an appearance in the 1997 Hollywood film Money Talks, which stars Chris Tucker alongside Charlie Sheen.

LYRICAL ANALYSIS

This may be considered one of Stevie’s more creative songs lyrically.  For instance, the chorus/hook is relayed mainly relayed from the second person.  The verses feature a couple of innuendos, i.e. indirect phrases which require a bit of thinking on the part of the listener to rightfully interpret.  Moreover, even though the track is romance-oriented, it’s as if the singer is mainly speaking to the listener as opposed to his sweetheart.

But that said, the overall message is blatantly clear.  Stevie is heartbroken, feeling as if he has been deserted by the woman he loves.  And to make matters a thousand times worst, he’s firmly under the impression this is so do to his significant other having develop an interest in another guy(s).

SOURCES

“Stevie Wonder – Maybe Your Baby Lyrics”.  Genius.  Accessed on 30 July 2024.

“Talking Book”.  Wikipedia.  Last edited on 24 July 2024.

The New York Times.  “50 Years Ago, Stevie Wonder Heard the Future”.  The New York Times.  27 October 2022.

“Talking Book (Macy Gray album)”.  Wikipedia.  Last edited on 21 July 2024.

“Prince & Stevie Wonder – Maybe Your Baby”.  Prince.org.  18 February 2018.

“Maybe Your Baby”.  Prince Vault.  14 April 2021.

“Stevie Wonder’s “Maybe Your Baby” = Prince & Michael Jackson”.  Steve Hoffman Music Forums.  15 May 2006.

Stevie Wonder.  “Maybe Your Baby”.  YouTube.  30 October 2018.

C. L Community.  “PRINCE & STEVIE WONDER ⚜️ Maybe Your Baby LIVE@GlamSlam (audio)”.  YouTube.  8 August 2017.

Craft Recordings.  “Macy Gray – Maybe Your Baby (official audio)”.  YouTube.  4 April 2023.

Maybe Your Baby by Stevie Wonder (1972)

Maybe Your Baby by Prince & Stevie Wonder (live, 1994)

Maybe Your Baby by Macy Gray (2012)