The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Very superstitious, writings on the wall
Very superstitious, ladder's 'bout to fall
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, yeah
Ooh, very superstitious, wash your face and hands
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song
When you believe in things you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, yeah, yeah
Whoa, hey, hoo
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say
Very superstitious, the Devil's on his way
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past, mhm
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no
Very superstitious, ladder's 'bout to fall
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, yeah
Ooh, very superstitious, wash your face and hands
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song
When you believe in things you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, yeah, yeah
Whoa, hey, hoo
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say
Very superstitious, the Devil's on his way
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past, mhm
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no
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I don't think this solely deals with drugs so much as it has to do with people letting stuff like certain religious & traditional beliefs effect them to the point of not living a full life. Thus, you have the "when you believe in things that you don't understand" line...reminds me of those people who believe whatever their priests tell them but they have never read the bible.
To me this song means I will shortly get my ass out of the chair and shake it! This song is awesome!
I think that this song probabally is some sort of commentary on the urban atmosphere of the early 70's. It seems to me Stevie found a very catchy-non threatening way to discuss the mistrust of authority and the feeling of pending doom from outside and inside influences (devils on his way). The true genius of this song is that we all danced to it carefree while he was speaking of socially relevant issues.
Can't remember who told me this because I don't think I imagined it, but I do believe this song was inspired by cultures in the world that turn their backs away from modern medicine and scientific method and continue to "believe in things that (you, him, it, we, they, etc.) don't understand (which I think is Stevie's definition of 'superstition')" and therefore "suffer" from, example, disease and sickness (that is curable with modern medicine) or, more importantly, fear (which causes us to suffer and except NO change)... "You don't want to save me"... Therefore, "...sad is MY (Stevie's and whoever else has felt like this...) song." ("Hey, hey, hey...!!!)
@Musichound Bingo.
You may laugh all you wish about this, as a small child my sister convinced me that it said a thirteen month old baby broke his lookin glass, now seven years of bad luck and poopin in your pants!" It was easy to confuse a small child then, I have grown and learned much about music and life!
The core of the meaning behind Stevie's song is that ANY superstitions including religion, political party dogma, OCD behavior practices, ETC are just a slow you down and turn you around piece of wasted time that you shall never get back. Much of the basis was about all of the stupid racial beliefs and political practices used at the time to suppress as much of the liberal masses as possible so as not to increase the rise against the establishments conservatism! Scotty
It isn't about drugs or religion. The song is about how being superstitious in life isn't worth it.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand Then you suffer" If you don't believe in superstition then you won't suffer... as in avoiding an experience or adventure because a superstition says not to.
"Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong You don't wanna save me, sad is my song" If you believe in superstition, it will cross your mind when you encounter something considered superstitious. Superstition is sad, never happy.
I could be totally off and ASigIAm213 had it right all along. Remember, superstition ain't the way... :-)
This song is about putting more value in things which can be proven then in some guy that probably molests children talking about an invisible narcissist. It advocates learning, because if you don't know what's going on around you, if you don't know what you're talking about, you will suffer.
WOO SCIENCE.
But mostly, yeah, it's about Mr. Wonder being AMAZINGLY talented.
asshole. u can get ur point across without bashing people that can actually explain things
You know, by 2019 the "edgy atheist" thing is total cringe. I know it was OK back in 2007, but you've embarrassed yourself in the future.
ezk et al have it right: stevie just wants to say that believing in shit like walking under a ladder or a black cat is stupid.
Hi Gang, first post here. Great site!
This is a song about superstition. Two of them used to be popular:
If you break a mirror, you'll have seven years of bad luck.
If you break a mirror, you'll have "13 months of maybes" (uncertainty) in your life.
Listen closely and you'll hear it's not "13-month old baby". This line is frequently misquoted, mainly because not many are still around who're old enough to remember this particular superstition. It dates back to at least the late 1800's and is probably older.
I love this song! (And not just because it reminds me of John Carpenter's THE THING.)<br /> <br /> The meaning's fairly obvious: don't believe in things that don't make sense. Yes, I think it could be applied to religion, but the title and lyrics clearly indicate that everyday superstitions are the intended target.
Sorry, but it is indeed "13-month old baby." Listen closely to Stevie's enunciation and you can hear the "b" when he says "baby" and there's no "s" sound at the end. Every other site has it that way, and there's no mention of it on kissthisguy.com (misheard lyrics site).
@Rigel11 But the song said, "thirteen month old baby broke the looking glass"
Just wanted to share this...soul music artist and producer Raphael Saadiq (from Tony! Toni! Tone!) was an in-studio guest on the Current in Minneapolis on Friday, March 13th. He was playing a show that night and the host (Mark Wheat) asked him if he was nervous about playing a show on Friday the 13th. Raphael replied that Stevie Wonder had taught him not to be superstitious. He then said, "You'd have a hard time being superstitious with all the black cats in my neighjborhood." LOL!