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.
Wild Eyes
Jefferson Starship Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her vision pierces the sky
Her name is Angel 'n' she's just like a raven
Wild eyes
No one can tell me no no nobody knows
Where she comes from or where she goes
Such a dangerous girl with her dreams intact
Wild eyes
[Chorus]
Now now angel
Now now wild eyes
Now now angel
Now now wild eyes
Off the planet and across your brains
Break the walls I'm in love again
And even telepathic children
Have to eat their vegetables
Wild eyes
There were days when we linked our arms
Swayed and sang with our fists in the air
And as the sirens sang we asked for more
With wild eyes
Angel and I need more of what's real
And we want it now
[Chorus]
Like a shadow on the walls of time
Like a soldier at the walls of troy
Like a lover at your heart again
I wanna break through
The lyrics to Jefferson Starship’s “Wild Eyes” are about a girl named Angel who is described as having “eyes wide open” and a piercing vision that can see beyond the sky. The singer, who is in love with Angel, believes that she is just like a raven, which is known for its intelligence and sharp instincts. However, despite his admiration for her, he admits that she is a dangerous girl with her dreams intact, a quality that makes her even more intriguing and alluring.
The chorus repeats the words “now now angel” and “now now wild eyes” which suggests a sense of urgency and excitement about the relationship between the two individuals. The verse “Off the planet and across your brains, break the walls I'm in love again” speaks about their passionate love and the intense emotions that they both feel for each other. Additionally, the line “Even telepathic children have to eat their vegetables” may symbolize the idea that even though they may have supernatural abilities or gifts, they still have to do mundane things like eat their vegetables in order to survive.
Overall, the lyrics to “Wild Eyes” convey a sense of rebellion, risk-taking, and living life to the fullest. The couple is in search of something “real” and they want it now, disregarding the consequences and dangers that come with their wild and unpredictable lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a girl with her eyes wide open
I have a girl who sees everything clearly
Her vision pierces the sky
She has a powerful imagination and high goals
Her name is Angel 'n' she's just like a raven
The girl's name is Angel and she is like a raven, dark and mysterious
Wild eyes
Her eyes show her untamed spirit and adventurous nature
No one can tell me no no nobody knows
Nobody can stop me or tell me what to do, and nobody knows where Angel comes from or where she goes
Where she comes from or where she goes
Her origins and destination are a mystery
Such a dangerous girl with her dreams intact
Angel is a risky girl, but she holds onto her aspirations
Wild eyes
Her daring spirit shines through her eyes
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Off the planet and across your brains
Going beyond the norm and changing your thinking
Break the walls I'm in love again
Breaking barriers and feeling love again
And even telepathic children
Even children who can read thoughts
Have to eat their vegetables
Need to do what's necessary even if they don't like it
Wild eyes
Angel's fierce spirit remains constant
There were days when we linked our arms
There were times when we united and worked together
Swayed and sang with our fists in the air
Moved and sang with our passion and beliefs
And as the sirens sang we asked for more
Even when things got dangerous, we didn't stop pushing for more
With wild eyes
With bold and daring eyes
Angel and I need more of what's real
Angel and I want more genuine experiences
And we want it now
We want it immediately
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Like a shadow on the walls of time
Like a ghost from the past that still lingers
Like a soldier at the walls of troy
Like a warrior who fought at the famous battle of Troy
Like a lover at your heart again
Like someone who is in love again after being hurt
I wanna break through
I want to overcome obstacles and reach my goals
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: PAUL L KANTNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind