1) an American pop/rock ba… Read Full Bio ↴Starship is the name of more than one artist:
1) an American pop/rock band
2) trance act
3) UK powerpop
4) tech house group
5) 70s rock band with Micky Dolenz
1) Starship is an American pop/rock band best known for their hits "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and "We Built This City" that operated from 1985 to 1989, reforming in 1992 although featuring just vocalist Mickey Thomas. In 1984, singer-songwriter Paul Kantner left the San Francisco, California group Jefferson Starship. His former bandmates wanted to continue with that name, but Kantner, as the last founding member of Jefferson Airplane, took legal action over the "Jefferson" name. 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. (made up of Bill Thompson, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady) agreed. The band then took the name "Starship". Keyboard player David Freiberg, who had been increasingly marginalized, left as well.
In contrast to Paul Kantner's more experimental and progressive rock direction, Starship moved towards a sleek arena rock direction reminiscent of contemporaries Foreigner and Journey. In 1985, the band, based primarily around dual vocalists Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, released 'Knee Deep in the Hoopla' and immediately scored two #1 hits. The first was "We Built This City", written by the team of Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf (producer), which was inspired by Bay Area rock n roll station KSAN-FM.
That song was trashed at the time by Kantner and later criticized by co-singer Grace Slick, and it was later declared to be the "worst song of all time" by Blender magazine. VH1 also named it the number-one "Most Awesomely Bad Song" on a top-50 countdown co-sponsored with Blender. However, it became something like a 'signature song' for Starship and has continued to receive major airplay. The band's second #1 was "Sara"; no previous incarnation of Jefferson Airplane/Starship had had a #1 hit. 'Knee Deep in the Hoopla' itself reached #7, went platinum, and spawned two more singles: "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (#26), and "Before I Go" (#68).
In 1987, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" was featured in the film 'Mannequin' and hit #1, although only Slick and Thomas (plus Craig Chaquico's guitar solo) appeared on it. This song made Slick the oldest female vocalist to sing on a number-one Billboard Hot 100 hit, at the age of 47 (a record that she held until Cher broke it at age 53 in 1999 with "Believe".) The following year, with the new members Mark Morgan (keyboard) and Brett Bloomfield (bass) added. the band's song "Wild Again" (which reached #78 on the Billboard singles chart) was used in the movie 'Cocktail'.
By the time 'No Protection' was released, bassist Pete Sears had left. The album went gold and featured the hits "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (#1), "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" (#9), and "Beat Patrol" (#46). In addition, the last song on the album, "Set the Night to Music", would later become a huge hit when re-recorded as a duet between Roberta Flack and Maxi Priest.
Grace Slick left Starship in 1988, having become disillusioned with the band's drift towards a strongly commercial pop image and swearing never to perform with them again. The revamped Starship lineup, featuring Mark Morgan (keyboards) and Brett Bloomfield (bass), released 'Love Among the Cannibals' in 1989. Finding their commercial prospects waning, the group finally disbanded the following year.
In 1992, vocalist Mickey Thomas revived the band, originally using the name "Mickey Thomas' Starship". Gaining some praise for his live performances, he changed the name to "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas". Lately, the band often refers to itself simply as "Starship", though with Thomas being its only consistent member. In September 2013, the group released their first new studio material in over two decades, putting out the tune "It's Not the Same as Love".
Their official website can be found at www.starshipcontrol.com.
Carry On My Wayward Son
Starship Lyrics
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There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
Ah
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming,
I can hear them say
Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man,
Well, it surely means that I don't know
On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune,
But I hear the voices say
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more no!
Carry on,
You will always remember
Carry on,
Nothing equals the splendor
Now your life's no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry,
Don't you cry no more,
No more!
The lyrics to Starship's song "Carry On My Wayward Son" deal with themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and uncertainty about the future. The song begins with the singer urging the "wayward son" to carry on and not give up, assuring him that there will be peace once he has reached his destination. The message is one of hope and encouragement, suggesting that even in the face of challenges and hardship, it is possible to find happiness and fulfillment.
The lyrics then describe the singer's own struggles with understanding the world around him, as he tries to make sense of the "noise and confusion" of life. He tries to rise above it, seeking a deeper understanding of the world beyond the "illusion" of everyday life. However, he ultimately realizes that he has flown too high, and that his perception of the world is still limited by his own biases and preconceptions.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to maintain a sense of identity in a world that often seems overwhelming and confusing. He describes himself as "masquerading" as a man with a reason, suggesting that he is putting on a façade to fit in with society's expectations. However, he also acknowledges that he does not really know what he is doing or why.
Despite these difficulties, the song ends on a positive note, with the singer urging the wayward son to "carry on" and find his way towards heaven. The lyrics suggest that even in the midst of uncertainty and confusion, it is possible to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Carry on my wayward son
Move forward, my son, despite obstacles and difficulties
There'll be peace when you are done
You will find peace once you have completed your journey
Lay your weary head to rest
Take a break and rest, you deserve it
Don't you cry no more
Stop worrying and feeling sad
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
At one time, I overcame the chaos and disarray
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
To catch a mere glimpse of what lies beyond this deceptive world
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high
I was reaching great heights but I went too far for my own good
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Even though I possessed the ability to see, I was still ignorant and blind
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
Although I was capable of thinking, I was still crazy and irrational
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming, I can hear them say
I can hear voices in my dreams that guide me
Masquerading as a man with a reason
Faking as someone logical and rational
My charade is the event of the season
My pretense is the talk of the town
And if I claim to be a wise man, well it surely means that I don't know
If I claim to be knowledgeable, it actually means I'm ignorant
On a stormy sea of moving emotion
In a tumultuous state of mind, full of conflicting emotions
Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean
Thrown around uncontrollably, similar to a ship being hit by waves
I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say
I aimed for success, but hear guiding voices diverting me
You will always remember
You'll never forget
Nothing equals the splendor
The feeling of joy and magnificence is unparalleled
Now your life's no longer empty
Your life is now filled with meaning and purpose
Surely heaven waits for you
Without a doubt, paradise is awaiting you
Don't you cry, don't you cry no more
Stop feeling sorrowful about the past, it's time to move on
Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.