Steppenwolf is a rock band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United … Read Full Bio ↴Steppenwolf is a rock band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1967. The band originally consisted of John Kay (vocals, guitar), Michael Monarch (guitar), Rushton Moreve (bass), Goldie McJohn (keyboards) and Jerry Edmonton (drums). The band is best known for their hit singles "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride". They were named after the novel Der Steppenwolf by German author Hermann Hesse.

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.

I'm Movin On
Steppenwolf Lyrics

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I warned you, baby from time to time
But you just wouldn't listen
Wouldn't pay me no mind
So I'm movin' on, I'm rollin' on
You've broken your vow and it's all over now
I'm movin' on

That big eight wheeler movin' down the track

Means your true lovin' daddy
Ain't comin' back
I'm movin' on, I'm rollin' on
You're flyin' too high
For my little sky, I'm movin' on

Then someday, baby when you've had your play
You're gonna want your daddy
But your daddy will say
Keep on movin', keep rollin' on
I'm through with you
Too bad you're blue, I'm movin' on

MrEngineer, take the throttle in hand
And take me down to that southern land
Keep movin' on, keep rollin' on
Just ease my mind
Get me there on time, keep movin' on

MrFireman, please, won't you listen to me
'Cause I got a pretty woman in Tennessee
Keep movin' on, keep rollin' on
She's fine as can be
And she's waitin' for me keep movin' on

I'm gonna move, I'm gonna move
Move (yes, I'm movin') Every day (yes, I'm movin')

And every night (yes, I'm movin')
And oh (yes, I'm movin') Yes, I'm movin'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steppenwolf's song, "I'm Movin' On," tells the story of a man who has decided to move on from a failed relationship. The first verse starts with a reference to a train: "That big eight-wheeler rolling down the track / Means your true lovin' daddy ain't coming back." Here, he uses the train as a metaphor for his own departure from the relationship. The second verse continues to paint the picture, as the train whistle blows, signaling the start of its journey, and he sings, "We're movin' on oh hear my song / You had the laugh on me so I've set you free and I'm movin' on."

He then asks the fireman to keep the train moving, saying, "Keep movin' me on keep rollin' on / So shovel the coal let the black smoke roll keep rollin' me on." He reflects on warning his partner about her behavior, but she didn't listen. So now, he's moving on for good: "You broken your vow and it's all over now so I'm movin' on." The final verse is a warning to his ex-lover that she will regret losing him, but by then it will be too late.

Overall, the song is a classic tale of heartbreak and moving on. The train metaphor is cleverly used to represent the journey away from a painful situation. The singer acknowledges the hurt he's experienced, but ultimately he knows that it's time to let go and move on.

Line by Line Meaning

That big eight wheeler rolling down the track
The sight of this train represents that your dear father, who you love dearly will not be coming back.

Means your true lovin' daddy ain't coming back
The above-mentioned train represents his father not coming back.

I'm movin' on I'll soon be gone
I acknowledge that you were too good for me, so I am leaving you and moving on with my life.

You were flying too high for my little old sky so I'm movin' on
Metaphorically stating that the person he was with was pursuing life at a pace and intensity that was too great for him to keep up, so he is leaving her for somebody else to enjoy her company.

That big loud whistle as it blew and blew
The loud sound of the train whistle up ahead is saying "Hello," to the Southland as they make their way there.

Said hello to the Southland we're coming to you
The singer is happy and taking the journey in the direction of the Southland, and nothing will stop him.

We're movin' on oh hear my song
The singer acknowledges that the person he was with had the upper hand in the relationship, so he is choosing to move on and live his own life.

You had the laugh on me so I've set you free and I'm movin' on
He acknowledges that he is leaving because the person he was with was always mocking him and making fun of him, so he is freeing himself.

Mister fireman won't you please listen to me
The writer is appealing specifically to the fireman to help him because he has a woman in Tennessee for whom he is searching.

I've got a pretty woman in Tennessee
The artist has a pretty woman in Tennessee, so he pleads with the fireman to keep moving them both in their travels.

Keep movin' me on keep rollin' on
The writer is encouraging the fireman to keep the engine going so they can keep moving towards their destination.

So shovel the coal let the black smoke roll keep rollin' me on
Metaphorically, the artist is suggesting that the fireman shovels the metaphorical coal, and let the smoke roll, so they can reach their destination.

I warned you baby from time to time
The many warnings he gave have been ignored over time.

But you just wouldn't listen or pay me no mind
The listener of the warnings has refused to listen to them or follow the advice, leading to the events that have unfolded.

I'm movin' on I'm rollin' on
He is forgetting this person and his earlier pledges to her and moving on to more future experiences and relationships.

You broken your vow and it's all over now so I'm movin' on
The artist acknowledges that the trust-breaking promises have caused this separation, rendering the current relationship over and it is time to move on to pastures new.

But some day baby when you've had your play
He knows that, sooner or later, the person he left will eventually grow tired of their current lifestyle.

You're gonna want your daddy but your daddy will say
At that point, the songwriter will have long gone, and she will have lost the love that he was showing to her.

Keep movin' on stayed away too long
He is telling his former partner to keep moving, as he stays away too long.

I'm through with you too bad you're blue so keep movin' on
He is done with her, regardless of her darker feelings, and will keep moving to his own future.

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