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.
Feed the Fire
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be careful, things are seldom what they seem.
Cling to your hopes, follow your heart
Don't lose that sparkle in your eyes
To some empty consolation prize
Stay on your course,follow the chart
And if at times, you lose the light
Then let your passion be your guide
Feel it burn deep within
Let it rise and let it shine
Keep it burnin',day and night
Guard it with your very life
FEED THE FIRE, never let it die
You'll fly alone to reach your mark
Don't fear the silence or the dark
They'll be good friends,you'll learn to love
Solitude's no sacrifice
To catch a glimpse of paradise
May you find peace and fly with the dove
And when you finally reach your star
Always remember who you are
In "Feed the Fire," Steppenwolf encourages listeners to chase their dreams and hold onto their passion through life's ups and downs. The first verse warns of the dangers that lurk when one seeks out their dreams: things are seldom what they appear to be. Despite the uncertainty, the song talks about the importance of holding onto one's hope and following the heart's desire. The second verse tells the listener to let their passion be their guide, to strike a spark and fan the flame in order to keep the fire burning day and night. The lyrics combine imagery of navigating and charting a course with that of a flame burning bright in order to convey a message of perseverance and determination. The final verse encourages the listener to continue on, even in solitude, holding onto the hope for a glimpse of paradise, and to never forget who they are.
This song serves as a classic example of Steppenwolf's style. The tone is powerfully optimistic and centers on the "rebel soul" archetype, the idea that one should hold onto one's passions and strive for a life of meaning and fulfillment regardless of the obstacles that may appear. Ultimately, the song is about believing in oneself and never giving up on one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
You're off to see the land of dreams
You are beginning a journey towards your dreams
Be careful, things are seldom what they seem.
You need to be cautious because reality can be deceptive
Cling to your hopes, follow your heart
You should hold onto your aspirations and follow your intuition
Don't lose that sparkle in your eyes
You should not let your spirit and enthusiasm fade
To some empty consolation prize
Don't settle for mediocrity or a meaningless reward
Stay on your course, follow the chart
You should remain focused and follow your plan
And if at times, you lose the light
If you experience setbacks, struggles or lose direction
Then let your passion be your guide
Use your strong emotions to motivate yourself and lead your way
Strike a spark, fan the flame
Ignite your passion and increase your drive
Feel it burn deep within
Experience a powerful internal urge to succeed
Let it rise and let it shine
Let your passion grow and be visible to others
Keep it burnin',day and night
Don't allow your motivation to subside, maintain it constantly
Guard it with your very life
Protect your passion and don't let anything diminish it
FEED THE FIRE, never let it die
Stay deeply motivated and passionate about your goals
You'll fly alone to reach your mark
You may have to pursue your aspirations by yourself
Don't fear the silence or the dark
Don't be afraid of being alone or facing struggles
They'll be good friends,you'll learn to love
Use loneliness and difficulty as close companions and as opportunities for growth and learning
Solitude's no sacrifice
Being alone is not a burden, it can be liberating and empowering
To catch a glimpse of paradise
To achieve your dream and experience complete happiness
May you find peace and fly with the dove
May you attain a state of serenity and soar freely, unencumbered
And when you finally reach your star
When you succeed in achieving your goal
Always remember who you are
Don't forget your identity and your journey to fulfill your aspirations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN KAY, MICHAEL 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.