They Won't Go When I Go

Wow! I didn't know this song even existed before today. I heard George Michael's version and was blown away. I quickly found out that Stevie Wonder wrote it and figured that he might have recorded before George Michael. So I downloaded it (Sorry Stevie) And I was even more blown away by Stevie's version. It's one of the most beautiful songs i can remember ever hearing. I'm getting the "Fulfillingness' First Finale" album tomorrow!

such an amazing song...seems to be gospel,indeed...and pretty obvious,huh?:)

I think this song is about judgment day, when the good are sent to heaven and the bad are sent to hell. Stevie (or the person who tells the story) will be with the good people. The sinners are being condemned by him. The quirky thing about this song is that it is called 'They won't go WHEN I go' instead of 'They won't go WHERE I go'. One would expect the last because that would be in line with the aforementioned. Still, it is interesting as it is so true. The moment one dies is unique. One dies alone at ones own time, hopefully leaving behind the sinners and heading towards ones own personal fulfilling good fate.

Stevie always succeeds in leaving me speechless.

I heard this song for the first time in a record shop -- back when there were still record shops -- in1974. A friend brought in the album and played the track for the store owner as an example of a bad pressing. Bad pressing or not, the song floored me. I had never heard anything quite like it in soul, rock, or gospel.

I still believe this is by far the best thing Stevie Wonder has ever done. I don't know exactly what the lyrics mean and I don't care -- the melody and arrangement is absolutely soaring, almost otherworldly. There are days when I play the song over and over; it never fails to move me.

I believe that this song is a brilliant and heart-wrenching illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in which the rapture of the church will occur. Believers in Jesus Christ will be taken to Heaven and those who, and I say this with agony, will be left here on Earth. That is why there is "weeping" in this song. This sudden catching away of the church at a time known only by God is why the artist mentions "when" instead of "where" -- to answer a previous comment. I believe Stevie Wonder also so skillfully uses the changing chord progression during the lyrics "I'll go where I've longed to go so long away from tears" to visualize an ascension into Heaven with the ground fading below. The song is somber, funeral-like, because it will be a tragic day for so many left behind. It is also so hopeful for those who look forward to a resting place with no tears, no more lying friends, painful pride or saddened eyes--Heaven. "Since my soul conceived all that I believe the Kingdom I will see" is the simple, but not easy, reason why he can say "along with Him (Jesus) I'll bide." If this song is speaking to you, read John 3:16 and 17 and decide for yourself. It's not about your religion, it's about your relationship with Jesus Christ who will be coming again soon.

Very obviously a biblical slant But there’s other interpretations to consider. It’s talking about trying to live with decency and integrity and the experiences they endured along the way from so called friends and takers in general. How many times have you heard‘only the good die young’ or something along these line lines?…. So consider being rewarded as ‘my soul will be free’ they might be on the planet longer but Stevie/George are saying that they know that, they also know that where they will end up will be better.because it’s isn’t actually the end.