Stevie Wonder, “He’s Misstra Know-It-All” | Throwback Vibez

On the 4^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “He’s Misstra Know-It-All” by Stevie Wonder.   

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! On the 4^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “He’s Misstra Know-It-All”, performed by Stevie Wonder.  Worth noting, Mr. Wonder appeared on the previous edition of Throwback Vibez with “All in Love Is Fair”.

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Theme & Lyrics

Because I can, I’m about to copy and paste from myself just ‘a might’ – at least I’m admitting it! “In case you didn’t know”, Brett Young, Innervisions is one of the greatest albums of all time. Rolling Stone agrees (they rank it as the 34^th greatest album of all time).  It marks one of three albums that soul legend Stevie Wonder was awarded the highly coveted Grammy for Album of the Year (the other two being Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life).  Innervisions features just nine songs but all nine are hits [NOTE: copy and pasting complete!].  Among my favorites is the closing cut, “He’s Misstra Know-It-All.” 

“He’s a man with a plan

Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand

He’s Misstra Know-It-All.”

On “He’s Misstra Know-It-All,” Stevie Wonder has a ‘bone to pick’ with somebody, or maybe, an assortment of folks.  Arguably, the top candidate that this gospel-infused soul gem is purported to be written about is disgraced President Richard Nixon.  Regardless of whom he’s referencing, it’s clear that he finds this person or persons deceptive, untrustworthy, and self-serving.

“If he shakes on a bet

He’s the kind of dude that won’t pay his debt

Oh, He’s Misstra Know-It-All.”

Notably, Wonder even drops profanity, albeit only a damn (“Give a hand to the man / You know damn well’s got the super plan / He’s Misstra Know-It-All”).  Worth noting, Wonder would get more ‘explicit’ on his 2020 single, “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” (“You say that you believe that all lives matter / I say, I don’t believe the fuck you do”).  The infamous ‘d-bomb’ occurs during my favorite part of the song, essentially a breakdown/ extended outro.  Soulfully, Wonder continues to paint this individual as flawed (“He’s some kind of fella / Thinking of only himself / He’s Misstra Know-It-All”).

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Final Thoughts  

Stevie Wonder is an icon, a beloved treasure, and a beastly musician.  Amazingly, he makes a critical song like “He’s Misstra Know-It-All” still sound bright, upbeat, and sunny. The energy and soul he infuses here could easily make you mistake this classic as a gospel song.  Instead, he questions the morality of some individuals.  What better way to do that than to kill ‘em with a major key!

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Stevie Wonder • Innervisions • Motown • 1972
Stevie Wonder, “He’s Misstra Know-It-All”: Throwback Vibez No. 4 [: Brent Faulkner, cotton bro, Motown, The Musical Hype]

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