Okay Orgers I need some assistance. There was this song by Stevie Wonder and Sylvia back in 1982 or 1983 called Used to be. It got a bunch of radio play..anyway does anyone know where I can get a copy of this song? The lyrics were pretty cool kinda political.

butterfli25 said:

Need a little more info. The only thing close to political that Stevie did during these two years you mentioned is "Front Line" from the Original Musiquarium Volume 1 album.

I think it was on Sylvia's albumn. She was a country and western singer but the song was pop, it was played on the black radio stations in northern california. I say it is political because it talks of how it "used to be" in relation to how thing were then. Kinda along the lines of village ghetto land where stevie is lamenting the way things are.

butterfli25 said:

The song you are talking about is actually by a singer named Charlene.It's called "Used To Be" and it came out in 1982 on Motown Records.I remember it contained a lyric about how "someone stole the Beatles' lead guitar".The song was written and/or produced by Stevie Wonder.

Charlene had another minor hit a year earlier with "I've Never Been To Me".She was more country/pop than R&B.

YES! thanks do you know where I can find a copy?

butterfli25 said:

No,I don't but I'll do a search and get back to you if I find anything.

Used to be
Charlene & Stevie Wonder



Superman was killed in Dallas
There's no love left in the palace
Someone took the Beatle's lead guitar
Have another Chivas Regal
You're twelve years old and sex is legal
Your parents don't know where or who you are

Used to be the hero of the ballgame
Took the time to shake the loser's hand
Used to be that failure only meant you didn't try
In a world where people gave a damn

Great big wars in little places
Look at all those fightin' faces
But don't come here
We just don't have the room

Love thy neighbor's wife and daughter
Cleanse your life with holy water
You don't need to bathe, we've got perfume

Used to be a knight in shining armor
Didn't have to own a shiny car
Dignity and courage were the measure of a man
Not the drugs he needs to hide the scar,
Oh woh woh woh oh woh

Can you picture me?
Does your preacher pray?
Does your president have soul?
Have you heard a real good ethnic tale today?

Mama took to speed and daddy ran away
But you musn't lose control,
Let's cut the class,
I got some grass
The kids are wild we just can't tame 'em
Do we have the right to blame them?

Fed them all our indecisions
We wrecked their minds with television
But what the hell, they're too young to feel pain

But I believe that love can save tomorrow
Believe the truth can make us free
Someone tried to say it, then we nailed Him to a Cross
I guess it's still the way it used to be