By 1973, after the breakup of Jefferson Airplane, with Kaukonen and Casady now devoting their full attention to Hot Tuna, several of the musicians who worked on Kantner, Slick, and Freiberg's album "Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun" formed the core of a new lineup that was formally reborn as "Jefferson Starship" in 1974. Kantner, Slick, and Freiberg were charter members. The line-up also included late-Airplane holdovers drummer John Barbata, Marty Balin,and fiddler Papa John Creach (who also played with Hot Tuna), along with Pete Sears (who, like Freiberg, played bass and keyboards) and twenty-year-old guitarist Craig Chaquico.
Eventually, Slick's alcoholism became a problem, which led to two nights of disastrous concerts in Germany in 1978. The first night, fans ransacked the stage when Slick failed to appear. The following night, Slick, in a drunken stupor, shocked the audience by using profanity and sexual references throughout most of her songs. She also reminded the audience that their country had lost during World War II , repeatedly asking "Who won the war?", and implied that all residents of Germany were responsible for the wartime atrocities. After the debacle, she left the band.
The band soon cribbed vocalist Mickey Thomas from the popular Elvin Bishop Group. After the 1979 release of 'Freedom at Point Zero' (which spawned the hit single "Jane"), Slick returned to the band. She joined in time to contribute one song, "Stranger", on the group's next album, Modern Times (1981). Modern Times also included the notorious "Stairway to Cleveland," in which the band defended the numerous changes it had undergone in its musical style, personnel, and even name. One noted personnel change in the group was when Dunbar left and was replaced by Donny Baldwin (also of the Elvin Bishop Group). Slick remained in the band for Jefferson Starship's final two albums, Winds Of Change (1982) and Nuclear Furniture (1984).
Around this time, the band began enthusiastically embracing rock's video age. Grace Slick would appear frequently on MTV and such music-oriented television shows as Solid Gold, giving the band a high visibility in the MTV era. However, the Jefferson Starship albums of this era were only modestly successful, yet the band remained a gold-selling (and thus commercially credible) act, and a popular concert draw.
In 1984, Kantner (the last remaining founding member of Jefferson Airplane) left the group, but not before taking legal action over the Jefferson name against his former bandmates, who wanted to continue as Jefferson Starship. Kantner settled out of court and signed an agreement that neither party would use the names "Jefferson" or "Airplane" unless all members of Jefferson Airplane, Inc. (Bill Thompson, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady) agreed. The band used the titles "Starship Jefferson" and "Jefferson Starship" during the proceedings, but ultimately settled on the shortening 'Starship'.
In 1992, Kantner restarted Jefferson Starship as Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation before returning simply to Jefferson Starship after a couple of years. This incarnation of the band continues to perform and record to this day.
Stranger
Jefferson Starship Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winter feels so gloomy
Hear the knock upon my door
Stranger calling
Eyes that look like mine
Said you know I've called before
What is veiled now soon will be shown
Familiar stranger
Should I know your name
Did we meet some time ago
I feel uncertain
Shadows whisper to me now
Sudden wind begins to blow
What is veiled now soon will be shown
Come walk with me through the unknown
Darkened doorways
Strangest things can happen
Don't know who you're talking to
Find yourself
When lightning strikes you now
You could be looking back at you
What is veiled now soon will be shown
Come walk with me through the unknown
What is veiled now soon will be shown
Come walk with me through the unknown
Stranger
Familiar stranger
Should I know your name
Did we meet some time ago
Are you someone I should know
Did we meet sometime ago
The lyrics to Jefferson Starship's song "Stranger" are about an encounter with a mysterious stranger who seems familiar yet unknown. The rain and winter weather reflect the gloominess and uncertainty surrounding this encounter. The lyrics suggest that the stranger may have called before and has some kind of connection with the singer, though it's not clear whether they have met before or if their connection is more spiritual or supernatural. The mysterious stranger invites the singer to walk with them through the unknown, suggesting that they may be leading them on a journey of self-discovery or illumination. The song finishes with the repeated question of whether the stranger and the singer have met before, leaving the mystery of their connection unresolved.
Line by Line Meaning
Raindrops falling
The weather is sad and gloomy
Winter feels so gloomy
The current feeling is a reflection of the weather
Hear the knock upon my door
There's someone at the door
Stranger calling
The person at the door is a stranger
Eyes that look like mine
The stranger has similar eyes to mine
Said you know I've called before
The stranger claims to have called before, but there's no memory of it
What is veiled now soon will be shown
The truth behind the stranger will be revealed soon
Come walk with me through the unknown
The stranger is inviting me to go with them into the unknown
Familiar stranger
The stranger seems familiar, but there's uncertainty about their identity
Should I know your name
Questioning whether the stranger's name should be known
Did we meet some time ago
Asking if the stranger and I have met before
I feel uncertain
Feeling unsure about the situation and the stranger
Shadows whisper to me now
The surroundings are starting to feel eerie and ominous
Sudden wind begins to blow
The environment is changing suddenly and drastically
Darkened doorways
The surroundings become darker and more unsettling
Strangest things can happen
Unexpected and strange things can happen in these circumstances
Don't know who you're talking to
There's uncertainty about the stranger's motives and intentions
Find yourself
There's a possibility of self-discovery in these unknown circumstances
When lightning strikes you now
Something unexpected or life-changing might happen
You could be looking back at you
There's a possibility of self-reflection or self-realization
Stranger
Highlighting the mysterious nature of the stranger
What is veiled now soon will be shown
Repeated to emphasize that the truth behind the stranger will be revealed soon
Come walk with me through the unknown
Repeated to emphasize the invitation to join the stranger into the unknown
Are you someone I should know
Continuing to question the stranger's identity and importance
Did we meet sometime ago
Repeating the question of whether the stranger and I have met before
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEANNETTE L. SEARS, PETER SEARS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BrianCarnevaleB26
As it should be. You helped me realize that with the trash spam you pump out. Way better off if we remain perfect strangers cuz I need you like I need a hole in my head.
I have a stress free drama free life. I come and go as I please
Ever since 1984
You nice you build your very own nest you will come to some realizatione, and perhaps some revelations as well.
Until then you are and will remain a fledgling still in mammas nest
Bet
@vondeckbar72
One of their most underrated songs.
@jeremytalley481
Agreed
@franklincornstalk9775
Cool when u play a song and someone says who is this?
@markboller4313
Brilliant song. An excellent beat.
@troydaigle7902
Yes indeed
@carobinsonrobinson3109
This song rocks!!!!
@garyrossetti2443
Mickey Thomas & Grace Slick have great chemistry together definitely love this version of the band.
@M1Anut
Grace is a little creepy/kooky in this vid.
@LindaMerchant-bq2hp
Like when her and Marty balin shared vocals
@califas69
Grace Slick still had that Jefferson Airplane vibes vocals from the 60s she looked young in 1981