Frontman John Kay's mother escaped with him at age 4 from Soviet occupied East Germany, an event recounted in the song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf Seven. His family resettled in Hannover, West Germany, before moving to Canada in 1958. Kay is partially blind, hence the use of dark glasses
In 1968, Nick St. Nicholas replaced Moreve as bass player.
Steppenwolf had its origins in the Toronto blues band Sparrow, which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in Yorkville. By 1967 they had settled in San Francisco.
Steppenwolf rocketed to fame after their third single, "Born to Be Wild" was used in the movie Easy Rider, as well as "The Pusher". The former song may have coined the term "heavy metal". This was followed by several more hits, including "Magic Carpet Ride" from Steppenwolf the Second, and "Rock Me" from At Your Birthday Party. Many fans consider their double album Steppenwolf Live [an extended single album in the UK] the best of Steppenwolf's releases. Monster and For Ladies Only were the band's most political albums, and are still fondly remembered by fans as two of the best rock & roll snapshots of the attitudes of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The band broke up in 1971, and Kay pursued a solo career. Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with the album Slow Flux, and disbanded in 1976. Afterwards, several versions of the band toured North America until Kay reformed the official version of the group in 1980.
John Kay released a solo album in 2001.
Born to Be Wild
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah, darlin', go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
I like smoke and lightnin'
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah, darlin', go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
We're lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah, darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf is a classic rock anthem that celebrates the freedom and rebellious spirit of the youth culture of the 1960s. At its core, the song is about the desire to break free from the constraints of society and live life on one's own terms. The lyrics urge listeners to get on their motorcycles, hit the open road, and embrace the feeling of being alive.
The opening lines of the song, "Get your motor runnin', head out on the highway," immediately establish the theme of the song. The singer is encouraging his audience to leave their mundane lives behind and embark on a journey of adventure and self-discovery. He urges them to embrace the unknown and to take whatever comes their way with enthusiasm.
The chorus of the song, "Born to Be Wild," reinforces the idea that the youth of the 1960s were not meant to be confined to the strict social norms of their parents' generation. They were born to live wild, to take risks, and to blaze their own trail. The song celebrates the power of youth and encourages listeners to embrace their inner rebellious spirit and live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your motor runnin'
Prepare yourself for what's ahead
Head out on the highway
Start the journey without any fear
Lookin' for adventure
Search for the new, the unknown and the exciting
And whatever comes our way
Whatever happens next, let's face it with courage
Yeah, darlin', go make it happen
Encouragement to pursue their desires
Take the world in a love embrace
Embrace everything that the world has to offer
Fire all of your guns at once and
Give it all you've got
Explode into space
Give everything to the point of going beyond limits
I like smoke and lightnin'
Referencing to the excitement of adventure
Heavy metal thunder
An expression of energy, thrill and thrill
Racin' with the wind
Speed and adrenaline rushing through the soul
And the feelin' that I'm under
The intense sensation of being alive
Like a true nature's child
A wild and free soul by nature.
We were born, born to be wild
The purpose of life is to be adventurous and experience everything.
We can climb so high
We can achieve anything we set our minds to
I never wanna die
The feeling of being alive is worth living for.
Born to be wild
To have a free spirit and embrace life to the fullest
Born to be wild
To have an innate need to live life with excitement and enthusiasm
Get your motor runnin'
Prepare yourself for what's ahead
Head out on the highway
Start the journey without any fear
We're lookin' for adventure
In search of the next thrill
And whatever comes our way
Whatever happens, we will face it head-on.
Yeah, darlin' go make it happen
Encouragement to pursue their desires
Take the world in a love embrace
Embrace everything that the world has to offer
Fire all of your guns at once and
Give it all you've got
Explode into space
Give everything to the point of going beyond limits
Like a true nature's child
A wild and free soul by nature.
We were born, born to be wild
The purpose of life is to be adventurous and experience everything.
We can climb so high
We can achieve anything we set our minds to
I never wanna die
The feeling of being alive is worth living for.
Born to be wild
To have a free spirit and embrace life to the fullest
Born to be wild
To have an innate need to live life with excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mars Bonfire
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
Wow a great song love it.