The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
Hey Frederick
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at what you hold
Come back down on a spear of silence
When it flies
You go on through
You come on through
The ridiculous no
Oh no
Loving eyes look down on you
Sheets and a pillow
How old will you have to be before you
Stop believing
That those eyes will look down on you
That way forever
There you sit mouth wide open
Animals nipping at your sides
On wire wheels the four stroke man
Opens wide
The marching sound
The constant ride
On the gasket is mine
All mine
One more pair of
Wire wheels bear down on you
Gear stripping the willow
How many machine men will you see before you
Stop believing that speed
Will slide down on you
Like breaks in bad weather
The lyrics of Jefferson Airplane's "Hey Frederick" are quite abstract and can be interpreted in a number of ways. At the most basic level, the song is about love and human relationships. The opening line is a plea to a lover: "Either go away or go all the way in", indicating that the singer wants their lover to fully commit or leave them alone. The following line, "Look at what you hold", suggests that the lover has something valuable to offer, but needs to make a decision.
The next section of the lyrics, "Come back down on a spear of silence / When it flies / You go on through / You come on through" is more difficult to interpret. It may be a metaphor for the ups and downs of a relationship, and the need for both partners to stick it out during difficult times. The line "The ridiculous no" could mean that there are obstacles and challenges to overcome, but that they are ultimately insignificant.
The final section of the song seems to be about the passage of time, and the inevitability of change. The lines "How old will you have to be before you / Stop believing / That those eyes will look down on you / That way forever" suggest that the singer is growing older and wiser, and realizing that nothing lasts forever. The lines about animals nipping at your sides and machine men may be metaphors for the pressures and stresses of daily life. The final lines, "How many machine men will you see before you / Stop believing that speed / Will slide down on you / Like breaks in bad weather" may be a warning to the listener not to get too caught up in the rush of life, and to appreciate the simple things while they can.
Line by Line Meaning
Either go away or go all the way in
Make a decision to either fully commit or leave.
Look at what you hold
Consider the value of what you have.
Come back down on a spear of silence
Return to a peaceful state of mind.
When it flies
When things are going well.
You go on through
You continue despite challenges.
You come on through
You persevere and overcome.
The ridiculous no
The unreasonable rejection.
Oh no
Expressing disbelief.
One more pair of loving eyes look down on you
Receive another person's love.
Sheets and a pillow
The comforts of home.
How old will you have to be before you stop believing that those eyes will look down on you that way forever
At what age will you realize that love may not last forever.
There you sit mouth wide open
Feeling shocked and surprised.
Animals nipping at your sides
Feeling like others are attacking or criticizing you.
On wire wheels the four stroke man
The sound of a motorcycle engine.
Opens wide
Reaching high speeds.
The marching sound
The rhythm of the engine.
The constant ride
The unending journey through life.
On the gasket is mine, all mine
The motorcycle belongs to the singer.
One more pair of wire wheels bear down on you
Another motorcycle approaches.
Gear stripping the willow
The speed and power of the motorcycle.
How many machine men will you see before you stop believing that speed will slide down on you like breaks in bad weather
How many reckless people will it take before you realize that speed can be dangerous.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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