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
Watch Her Ride
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you were waiting
For someone to come along to help you out
To sing your song
And I was changing
All I see is you, all I feel is you
For me
And always feel you by my side
I would really like to watch you ride
All on me
I go stumbling to the sky, and I seem to fly so high
I see you, I feel you
You have a way of walking 'round
Your feet they never touch the ground
And you are shining
All I see is you
All I feel is you for me
Oh
Times don't change
Times don't ever change for me
And I know that you could be
The only thing in my world
The only thing that my mind would find
For love, for love and peace of mind
For me, yeah, for me, oh
Your shadow in the morning sun becomes my fun
And we can say, I love you, love you
My morning shines on silver beaches
And your flashes to the reaches
Of my mind, of my mind
Of my mind, and my mind it comes alive with you
It's all that I can do
To sit here and let you blow my mind
Ah, my mind
You're so fine, in my mind you're so fine
In my mind you're so fine, in my mind, so fine, so fine
In Jefferson Airplane's Watch Her Ride, the persona portrays himself as a spectator of someone special who was waiting for a change in her life, someone to help her out, someone to sing her song. The persona then states that he was changing and all he sees and feels is her. He expresses his desire to watch her ride and feel her by his side. The persona then goes on to describe the person as having a way of walking around, with her feet never touching the ground, and shining. He emphasizes that all he sees and feels is her, and it is an unchanging feeling.
The persona continues to describe the person as the only thing in his world and the only thing that his mind would find for love and peace of mind. He then emphasizes the shadow of the person in the morning sun becoming his fun and how they can express love for each other on silver beaches. The person's mere presence makes his mind come alive, and all he can do is sit and let them blow his mind because they are so fine.
The lyrics speak of an overwhelming feeling of love and admiration for someone special, and how their mere presence enhances these feelings. The persona portrays himself as being captivated by this person, and all he sees and feels is her. The song's title, Watch Her Ride, is a metaphor for observing the person's life journey and being part of it.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't know you were the one for me, I couldn't see
I wasn't aware you were my soulmate, I couldn't perceive it
But you were waiting
However, you were waiting for me
For someone to come along to help you out
You were hoping someone would help you out in life
To sing your song
And help you reach your true potential
And I was changing
Meanwhile, I was going through personal transformation
All I see is you, all I feel is you
Now, you are my everything and all my emotions are tied to you
For me
You are essential to my existence
And I would really like to watch you ride
I take joy in watching you succeed
And always feel you by my side
I want to be there with you through thick and thin
I go stumbling to the sky, and I seem to fly so high
In your presence, I feel elevated
I see you, I feel you
I experience all of you
You have a way of walking 'round
You carry yourself in a distinctive manner
Your feet they never touch the ground
You seem to move with a graceful, magical air
And you are shining
You sparkle with inner light and beauty
Times don't change
Despite the passing of time
Times don't ever change for me
I never stop feeling the same about you
And I know that you could be
I am certain that you are
The only thing in my world
The most important thing in my life
The only thing that my mind would find
The only thing that occupies my thoughts
For love, for love and peace of mind
For the sake of love and serenity
For me, yeah, for me, oh
For me, without a doubt
Your shadow in the morning sun becomes my fun
Even your silhouette brings me joy
And we can say, I love you, love you
And together, we can express our love
My morning shines on silver beaches
My mornings become brighter thanks to you
And your flashes to the reaches
And your very presence in my life
Of my mind, of my mind
Influences my deepest thoughts and desires
And my mind it comes alive with you
In your presence, I feel alive and vibrant
It's all that I can do
All I can do is
To sit here and let you blow my mind
Allow myself to be completely enthralled by you
Ah, my mind
Yes, my mind
You're so fine, in my mind you're so fine
In my eyes, you're incredibly beautiful and amazing
In my mind you're so fine, in my mind, so fine, so fine
You are always on my mind and I can't get enough of you
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Kantner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DawidOw
That bassline... Those vocals, the guitars... Wow a masterpiece
Moonpie Shane
there's a part in the middle where they all hold the note on 'for me' and Grace finishes it off with holding the note longer and doin her thing. First time I heard this I broke out in chills from head to toe. Only the Airplane.
Dan Leonard
BEEeeEEP!!
KrakKokayne
Jorma and Jack were tearing it up towards the end, but Grace was just so beautiful in this song.
Exiles800
Yeah, I know what you mean man. I'm glad I'm not the only person to notice these things. All that magic and shining beauty and the album didn't sell that well. Go figure...The whole song does that chill thing to me lol...
JSP
Its the resolution of that chord; just grabs ya!
Amy O'Connell
I always go back to that part, so much so that I never end up actually finishing the entire song and I just listen to Grace sing that one part over and over lol.
fabrikk60
My big sister had this on a 7" single. Loved it when I was 8, especially the little bit of whistling at the beginning. Jack's bass work is still some of the best anywhere! (Hey - why the end cut off?)
Maddie M
One of my favorite songs of all time.
GopalaJaiJai
Jack on bass is amazing. Prelude to more bass leads trading licks with Jorma.