Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” features a prominent clavinet riff and lyrics about reaching a higher spiritual state.
The song was released in 1973 on the album Innervisions. Wonder played the instruments and sang the vocals, creating its tightly layered funk sound. The clavinet, processed with effects, provides the recording’s instantly recognizable rhythmic foundation.
The lyrics describe personal transformation and the hope of moving toward a better life. Wonder recorded the song shortly before a serious car accident in 1973, after which he temporarily lost his sense of smell and taste; the song was already completed before the accident.
“Higher Ground” is often confused with “Superstition,” another Innervisions-era hit with a famous keyboard riff. “Superstition” is centered on a different clavinet pattern and warning about superstitious beliefs.