By JC
Background
Stevie Wonder released “Higher Ground” in 1973 on his album Innervisions. He wrote and recorded it in about three hours and played nearly every instrument himself. The song hit number one on the R&B chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Just days after the album came out, Stevie was badly hurt in a car accident in North Carolina and lay in a coma. His friend and road manager Ira Tucker Jr. leaned close and sang “Higher Ground” into his ear. Stevie’s fingers began tapping along to the rhythm. It was one of the first signs he was coming back. Later Stevie said the song felt like it had been written ahead of time for what he was about to go through.
Through a Christian Lens
“Higher Ground” is a song about second chances. It speaks to a world full of sin and struggle, and it doesn’t pretend that world is fine. But it won’t settle there either. It keeps reaching up and pressing on, the way Paul talked about running the race until the end.
Then there’s the story behind it. A man lies near death, and the song he wrote is sung back to him, and life starts to stir. God’s people know that pattern. The Lord sometimes plants a word in us before the storm comes, so it’s there to carry us when we need it.
Higher ground is more than a nice idea. It’s the Rock. When the flood rises, we don’t climb up by our own strength. We call out, and He lifts us.
Closing Verse
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 61:2
JC is a Birmingham-area musician and writer, and the founder of We Rock Network.
