I'd say it's about some kind of a gambler. A guy who maybe cheats ("with a counterfeit dollar in his hand") or tricks people just to get his money ("playin' hard, talkin' fast, makin' sure that he won't be the last"). A gambler could at least be a possibility ("any place, he will play") because it's a normal thing to do if you like taking risks, know that you're good and so on. "His only concern is how much you'll pay" could mean that he knows he'll win, and he's very self confident and acts cool etc. "He'll tell you he knows he's living right", "If you had my kind of cash you'd have more than one place to go". He's cold and lonely, maybe, but lifts himself up in his mind because he's winning all the time.
So it seems to me like Stevie Wonder describes a hustler of some kind, maybe a seller ("makes a deal with a smile") that lures people to pay too much, or just a guy that has found a way to beat the system. "Must be seen, there's no doubt, he's the coolest one with the biggest smile", maybe points out the ego in him, giving me the impression that he's either having a lot of secrets or just enjoying it all. And tricking others to "believe" his smile and friendliness.
"If we had less of him, we'd had a better land" proves to me, at least, that this is about a character who's personality can be found in every population. And not about Nixon, but about a man that started off with nothing and worked his way up to get rich with dirty money. Though, of course, this is pointed at the United States, and maybe the US money culture in general (like ASigIAm213 said).
As for "He's misstra know it all", I know what it means, but what about "His misstra know(s) it all"? Like if it's his woman, or God, or any other person knowing that "his lie's a mile". At least that's a feeling I get: Somebody knows all the wrong he's done. But on the other hand, it pretty obviously means "He is Mr. Know-It-All", right?
Yeah.
One of my favorite songs of all time, too. Doesn't mean I'm correct at all, though. :) Maybe it actually is about Nixon.
I'd say it's about some kind of a gambler. A guy who maybe cheats ("with a counterfeit dollar in his hand") or tricks people just to get his money ("playin' hard, talkin' fast, makin' sure that he won't be the last"). A gambler could at least be a possibility ("any place, he will play") because it's a normal thing to do if you like taking risks, know that you're good and so on. "His only concern is how much you'll pay" could mean that he knows he'll win, and he's very self confident and acts cool etc. "He'll tell you he knows he's living right", "If you had my kind of cash you'd have more than one place to go". He's cold and lonely, maybe, but lifts himself up in his mind because he's winning all the time.
So it seems to me like Stevie Wonder describes a hustler of some kind, maybe a seller ("makes a deal with a smile") that lures people to pay too much, or just a guy that has found a way to beat the system. "Must be seen, there's no doubt, he's the coolest one with the biggest smile", maybe points out the ego in him, giving me the impression that he's either having a lot of secrets or just enjoying it all. And tricking others to "believe" his smile and friendliness.
"If we had less of him, we'd had a better land" proves to me, at least, that this is about a character who's personality can be found in every population. And not about Nixon, but about a man that started off with nothing and worked his way up to get rich with dirty money. Though, of course, this is pointed at the United States, and maybe the US money culture in general (like ASigIAm213 said).
As for "He's misstra know it all", I know what it means, but what about "His misstra know(s) it all"? Like if it's his woman, or God, or any other person knowing that "his lie's a mile". At least that's a feeling I get: Somebody knows all the wrong he's done. But on the other hand, it pretty obviously means "He is Mr. Know-It-All", right?
Yeah.
One of my favorite songs of all time, too. Doesn't mean I'm correct at all, though. :) Maybe it actually is about Nixon.