Frontman John Kay's mother escaped with him at age 4 from Soviet occupied East Germany, an event recounted in the song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf Seven. His family resettled in Hannover, West Germany, before moving to Canada in 1958. Kay is partially blind, hence the use of dark glasses
In 1968, Nick St. Nicholas replaced Moreve as bass player.
Steppenwolf had its origins in the Toronto blues band Sparrow, which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in Yorkville. By 1967 they had settled in San Francisco.
Steppenwolf rocketed to fame after their third single, "Born to Be Wild" was used in the movie Easy Rider, as well as "The Pusher". The former song may have coined the term "heavy metal". This was followed by several more hits, including "Magic Carpet Ride" from Steppenwolf the Second, and "Rock Me" from At Your Birthday Party. Many fans consider their double album Steppenwolf Live [an extended single album in the UK] the best of Steppenwolf's releases. Monster and For Ladies Only were the band's most political albums, and are still fondly remembered by fans as two of the best rock & roll snapshots of the attitudes of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The band broke up in 1971, and Kay pursued a solo career. Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with the album Slow Flux, and disbanded in 1976. Afterwards, several versions of the band toured North America until Kay reformed the official version of the group in 1980.
John Kay released a solo album in 2001.
Circles Of Confusion
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been strugglin' just like you, tryin' to keep myself afloat
You know your kind of trouble is just like mine
Circles of Confusion everywhere you turn
Shelter your illusion
Hold onto your dreams or watch them burn
I don't find it amusing, I ain't funny anymore
I got no time for jokes, no time for clowns
Still there's another one each time I turn around
Circles of Confusion everywhere you turn
Shelter your illusion
Hold on to your dreams or watch them burn
I know you got your bruises from fighting with your pride
I've been beaten down myself tryin' to keep my dream alive
We got knocked down before, down for the count
Still we're a long way off from being counted out
Pockets of Resistance, scattered everywhere
We can go the distance
We can find the way to take us there
I will not run and hide
I shall ride the rising tide
I will not be denied
Circles of Confusion everywhere you turn
Shelter your illusion, hold on to your dreams or watch them burn
Pockets of resistance, scattered left and right
We can go the distance
We can find a way to win the fight
In Steppenwolf's song "Circles of Confusion," the lyrics speak of a struggle that is relatable to everyone. The singer is expressing that he does not need anyone else's approval or vote, as they struggle with life's difficulties just like everyone else. This is an acknowledgment of the sense of confusion and uncertainty that surrounds us all. They go on to say that this "circle of confusion" is everywhere, and it is up to us to shelter our illusions, hold onto our dreams, or watch them burn.
The second verse speaks of not finding anything amusing anymore, as there is no time for jokes or clowns. There is an acknowledgement of the difficulty of life, as the singer says they have their bruises from fighting with their pride. Despite the setbacks, they are determined not to be counted out yet. There are pockets of resistance scattered everywhere, and there is a way to go the distance and find the strength to win the fight. The chorus is a reminder that there is a circle of confusion everywhere we turn, but we have the power to hold onto our dreams and find a way to win the fight.
One of the messages in this song is that struggles are universal, and we all face difficult times in different forms. However, it is imperative to keep moving forward and keep fighting, no matter how difficult the road may be. The song is a rally for those who feel beaten down by life's obstacles, reminding them that there is always hope in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need your approval, I ain't lookin' for your vote
I don't require your agreement, and I'm not asking for your endorsement.
I've been strugglin' just like you, tryin' to keep myself afloat
I've been fighting like you, attempting to stay above water.
You know your kind of trouble is just like mine
You recognize that my difficulty is similar to yours.
Circles of Confusion everywhere you turn
There are moments of uncertainty everywhere you turn.
Shelter your illusion
Protect your belief.
Hold onto your dreams or watch them burn
Continue to have faith in your aspirations or lose them.
I don't find it amusing, I ain't funny anymore
I don't think it's amusing, I don't find it humorous anymore.
To be runnin' in this race, with my feet nailed to the floor
To compete in this competition with my feet glued to the ground.
I got no time for jokes, no time for clowns
I don't have time for humor, or for people who are funny.
Still there's another one each time I turn around
However, there is still another entertainer, no matter which way I go.
I know you got your bruises from fighting with your pride
I realize that you have been hurt in protecting your ego.
I've been beaten down myself tryin' to keep my dream alive
I, too, have struggled to keep my aspiration going.
We got knocked down before, down for the count
We've been defeated before, and done for.
Still we're a long way off from being counted out
Despite this, we are still not completely out of the running.
Pockets of Resistance, scattered everywhere
Locales where opposition is prevalent, scattered throughout.
We can go the distance
We can continue to fight for as long as it takes.
We can find the way to take us there
We can find a route to get us to our objective.
I will not run and hide
I will not evade the problem or retreat.
I shall ride the rising tide
I will use the favorable circumstances to my advantage.
I will not be denied
I will overcome.
Pockets of resistance, scattered left and right
Areas of resistance that are prevalent both to the left and the right.
We can go the distance
We can continue to fight for as long as it takes.
We can find a way to win the fight
We can discover a strategy to emerge victorious.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KAY, PALMER, WILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Move Over
A really great song.
Philip Kassabian
on It's Never Too Late
Yet another great Steppenwolf song.
Philip Kassabian
on Jupiter's Child
Wow what an excellent song.
Philip Kassabian
on Born to Be Wild
Wow a great song love it.
Scott
on Happy Birthday
It is I hope you read your story book NOT WRECK YOUR STORY BOOK.