Ananda Shankar (11 December 1942 – 26 March 1999) was an Indian musician be… Read Full Bio ↴Ananda Shankar (11 December 1942 – 26 March 1999) was an Indian musician best known for his fusion of Western and Eastern musical styles. He was married to Tanushree Shankar.

Born in Almora, Uttar Pradesh, India, Ananda was the son of Amala and Uday Shankar, popular dancers. He was also the nephew of renowned sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar. Ananda did not learn sitar from his uncle but studied instead with Dr. Lalmani Misra in Varanasi.

In the late 1960s Shankar travelled to Los Angeles, where he played with many contemporary musicians including Jimi Hendrix. There he was signed to Reprise Records and released his first studio album, the self-titled Ananda Shankar in 1970, featuring original Indian classical material alongside sitar-based cover versions of popular hits such as The Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and The Doors' "Light My Fire". This album has become an enduring cult classic.

Returning to India in the early 1970s Shankar continued to experiment musically and in 1975 released his most critically acclaimed album, Ananda Shankar and His Music, a jazz-funk mix of Eastern sitar, tabla and mridangam, Western rock guitar, drums and Moog synthesizers. Out of print for many years, Ananda Shankar and His Music was re-released on CD in 2005.

After working in India during the late 1970s and 1980s, Shankar's profile in the West began to rise again in the mid-1990s as his music found its way into club DJ sets, particularly in London. His music was brought to a wider audience with the release of Blue Note Records' popular 1996 rare groove compilation album, Blue Juice Vol. 1., featuring the two standout tracks from Ananda Shankar and His Music, "Dancing Drums" and "Streets of Calcutta".

In the late 1990s Shankar worked and toured in the United Kingdom with London DJ State of Bengal and others, a collaboration that would result in the Walking On album, featuring Shankar's trademark sitar soundscapes mixed with breakbeat and hip hop. Walking On was released in 2000 after Shankar's sudden death from heart failure the year before.

In 2005, his song "Raghupati" was featured in the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

Walking On
Ananda Shankar Lyrics

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Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk forever
Walking on the moon
We could live together
Walking on, walking on the moon

Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Walking back from your house
Walking on the moon
Feet they hardly touch the ground
Walking on the moon
My feet don't hardly make no sound
Walking on, walking on the moon

Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
And if it's the price I pay
Some say
Tomorrow's another day
You stay
I may as well play

Giant steps are what you take
Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break
Walking on the moon
We could walk forever
Walking on the moon
We could be together
Walking on, walking on the moon

Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
And if it's the price I pay
Some say
Tomorrow's another day
You stay
I may as well play

Keep it up, keep it up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ananda Shankar's Walking On, is a poetic representation of intense longing and a desire for hope in the midst of an uncertain future. The opening lines, "Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon, I hope my legs don’t break, walking on the moon," paint a vivid image of vulnerability and the need for resilience in a hostile and intimidating world. The singer is hoping to survive, thrive, and explore in a desolate environment just like an astronaut walking on the moon.

As the song progresses, Shankar continues to draw attention to the limits of our human capabilities with the refrain, "We could walk forever, walking on the moon, we could live together, walking on, walking on the moon." Here, the singer's desire for closeness and connection is apparent, but the journey is not without obstacles. It’s both an impossible and infinite reality that stretching the limits of human endeavor.

The second stanza is a recurrence of the first with minor changes. It portrays the impression of an introspective character who isn’t distracted by other people's opinions. Instead, the singer enjoys solitude while walking on the moon, as illustrated by the line "walking back from your house, walking on the moon."

Overall, Ananda Shankar’s Walking On exudes a message of endurance and optimism. Amidst uncertainties and difficulties, it’s important to keep pushing through with grit and determination to reach our desired destination.

Line by Line Meaning

Giant steps are what you take
You are taking large strides.

Walking on the moon
You are walking, but it feels like you're on the moon.

I hope my legs don't break
You hope you don't get hurt while walking on the moon.

We could walk forever
You feel like you could keep walking indefinitely.

We could live together
You feel a sense of connection while walking together.

Walking back from your house
You are retracing your steps from someone's residence.

Feet they hardly touch the ground
Your steps feel light and almost weightless.

My feet don't hardly make no sound
You are walking quietly and stealthily.

Some may say
Some people might suggest that...

I'm wishing my days away
You might be hoping for time to pass more quickly.

No way
You don't agree with that perspective, though.