I'm Asking
Steppenwolf Lyrics

I'm asking all you mothers,
I'm seeking answers from all the mothers out there in regards to their children's exposure to negative elements in society.

Do your children take jive?
Do your kids get involved in drug or other illicit activities that could harm them?

And god was just piled upon them
Are your children loaded with religious dogma that might not be relevant or useful in their lives?

Do you think they'll survive?
Given the current state of affairs, do you think your children will be able to thrive and survive in this world?

You send them to the movies
Do you take your kids to the movies and other forms of media?

What you think that they'll see?
Are you sure that your children will see good things, or will they be subjected to negative images and themes?

You know that that won't be love
It is certain that they won't see love manifest in these media forms.

That not breathing cheaply
The air of these media forms is not cheap, they are actually expensive in terms of their negative effects.

A vagrant or a murderer
Children could be influenced by characters depicted in media as nefarious as vagrants or murderers.

A rapist or a cheat
Similarly, children could also observe dishonest and molesting acts being perpetrated by characters.

I missed your millions
A commentary on the greed of society today and its effect on youths.

And violence in our streets
Another commentary on the sad state of affairs in modern civilization with regards to the prevalence of street violence.

but Las Vegas bodies
The high incidence of human degradation in Las Vegas is alluded to.

Are still not for your lives
The implication being that life is too precious to be wasted on such pursuits.

I'm asking all you mothers,
Bringing the theme back to the mothers once again.

Do you tell your children lies?
Are you honest in your communications with your children or are you someone who lies to your children?

How do you think they'll grow up
Rhetorical questioning- asking the question to get one thinking toward a specific line of thought and possible truths.

If they're weened upon a gun
Are your children being raised and nurtured out of the barrel of a gun?

Or stories of how the stork
Alternatively, are you feeding your children on myths and legends?

And bout you, your new start
Taking responsibility for setting things right from the current status quo, thinking no less about yourself and your actions.

A tear in the darkness
What connects people is their emotion, be it joy or grief, in seeking an ideal world. Understanding this sentence requires interpretation and one's own estimation , emphasising the emotional connection we have with each other.

As a wellness fills there eyes
As they realise the idealistic horizon envisioned for them, they will come to understand the whole concept and its importance.

When truth is discovered
The moment of clarity when truth is revealed and all doubts are resolved.

If they leave you - don't
When they grow up and leave home, don't feel aggrieved.

Don't you be surprised
Because their independence and autonomy are natural things waiting to happen.

For the sake of our children,
As if it's a universal responsibility collectively held by society as a whole.

Don't take away the right
We should avoid suppressing children's rights and freedoms.

The right to be free.
We should empower our children to be independent and autonomous individuals without any hindrance.

I'm asking all you young girls
Now addressing the girls.

Have you learned about lost pleasure
Whether they, as young women, have already seen and experienced the darker aspects of the world.

Or did your parents bind tomorrow
On the flip side, are they denied the freedom to dream about and plan for their future?

Restrain you from the treasure
Are they being denied the opportunity to explore and discover their aspirations and talents?

Tell me, look behind you
Calling upon self-reflection and introspection for gaining greater insight into one's reality.

Was your mama really there?
Was your mother really there when you needed her?

Your child looks a lot like you
A reminder that your daughter will look up to you and learn from your actions.

For her sake I hope you'll be fair
Therefore, for the sake of every daughter, maintaining and promoting fairness is crucial.

You want your kids to grow up
Offering words of wise advice on raising children.

With the things you never had
As parents, we should aim to provide our children with the opportunities that we never had.

Then give them all there freedom
However, we should not control their lives as well- we should empower our children to make decisions and follow their own aspirations and dreams.

Respect there values of good and bad
Lastly, respecting their beliefs and ethics is important- it creates an environment suitable for healthy growth and development.

I'm asking
The ultimate purpose of the song is to ask society and its members deep questions about life and morals.

Yes, I'm asking
It emphasizes the importance of asking such questions and seeking such answers.

I'm asking
Yes, he is still asking, even after all the questioning.

I'm asking
The declaration that he is still seeking answers.

Do you tell your children lies
Reiterating the poignant theme of honesty and the importance of a transparent parent-child relationship.

I'm asking
The song ends with the same declaration; calling out for society to reflect and seek a better future.