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.
Don't Cry
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight
Oh my, did you do something wrong?
You got messed up while sitting on the throne
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
We saw your daughter's burning the stag
Then take a look beside you on the ground
Yes mam', I saw the old man
Sleeping off his trip beside two stimulation cans
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
We saw your daughter's burning the stage
The song "Don't Cry" by Steppenwolf is sung from the perspective of someone who is trying to console their loved one, a person who is going through a tough time. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to listen and support their friend through their troubles. The line, "it's gonna be alright," is a simple but effective way of offering reassurance to someone who is feeling overwhelmed. The second line, "I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight" shows the importance of active listening and empathy in communication. The person singing the song is asking their friend what's wrong, and showing that they are willing to be present and offer support.
The next two lines, "Oh my, did you do something wrong? You got messed up while sitting on the throne," are a bit more ambiguous. It's unclear who the "you" in the lyrics is referring to, but it could be interpreted as the friend who is going through a tough time. The image of being "messed up while sitting on the throne" suggests a feeling of powerlessness or vulnerability, and could possibly be interpreted as someone who has made a mistake or experienced a failure.
The final lines of the first verse, "Dear ladies won't you turn a new page, We saw your daughter's burning the stage," seem not to relate directly to the rest of the song, and the meaning is open-ended. It's possible that the singer is referring to a group of women who are connected to their friend's troubles in some way, or perhaps offering a commentary on the societal pressure on women to conform to certain expectations. The line "burning the stage" could be interpreted to mean anything from making a bold social statement to engaging in reckless behavior.
Overall, "Don't Cry" is a song about empathy and support, about being there for someone who is struggling. The lyrics offer comfort and reassurance in uncertain times, and the song speaks to the importance of being present for the people we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry, it's gonna be alright.
Don't worry, everything is going to be fine.
I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight
I'm willing to listen to you and provide support tonight.
Oh my, did you do something wrong?
Did something wrong happen to you?
You got messed up while sitting on the throne
You got into trouble while in a position of power or authority.
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
Women, please consider making a positive change.
We saw your daughter's burning the stag
We witnessed your daughters destroying something important.
Look up, turn your head around
Take a moment to look at your surroundings.
Then take a look beside you on the ground
Then examine what's happening right in front of you.
Yes mam', I saw the old man
I witnessed the elderly man.
Sleeping off his trip beside two stimulation cans
He was recovering from drug use next to two containers of substances.
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
Women, please consider making a positive change.
We saw your daughter's burning the stage
We witnessed your daughters destroying something important.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gabriel Mekler
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.