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 a Road Runner
Steppenwolf Lyrics

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Money, who needs it
Let me live a life free and easy
Put a toothbrush in my hand
Let me be a travelling man
I'm a roadrunner, baby
Roadrunner
Roadrunner
I'm a road runner baby,

Can't stay in one place too long
I'm a road runner,
You might look at me
And I'll be gone
Well you can love me if you wanna
But I do declare
When I get restless
I got to move somewhere
Yes, I'm a road runner baby,
Anywhere is my home
And I love the life I live
And I'm gonna live the life I love
Roadrunner baby
Roadrunner Roadrunner
Don't want no woman to tie me down
Gotta be free baby to roam around
All my life I've been like this
You can love me at your own risk
When the dust hits my shoes
I got the urge to move
'Cause I'm a road runner baby,
Gotta keep on, keepin' on
And I live the life I love
And I'm gonna love the life I live

Roadrunner baby
Roadrunner Roadrunner

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steppenwolf's "I'm a Road Runner" are about a man who values freedom and independence over material possessions like money. He dreams of a life where he can travel and explore new places, without being tied down by responsibilities or commitments. He sees himself as a "road runner", always on the move and unable to stay in one place for too long.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Roadrunner, baby", emphasizing the singer's independence and desire for a life on the road. He warns potential partners that he cannot be tied down, and that his wanderlust is a part of who he is. The song ends with a declaration that he will continue to live the life he loves, and keep moving forward down the open road.

The lyrics to "I'm a Road Runner" can be interpreted as both a celebration of freedom and a warning about the dangers of commitment. The singer sees himself as a wild, untamed creature who cannot be bound by traditional societal norms. At the same time, he acknowledges that his choices come with consequences, and that others may choose not to follow in his footsteps.

Line by Line Meaning

Money, who needs it
I don't care about money and material possessions.

Let me live a life free and easy
I want to live a life without restrictions or burdens.

Put a toothbrush in my hand
All I need is a toothbrush, I don't need much more than that.

Let me be a travelling man
I want to be a wanderer and travel the world.

I'm a roadrunner, baby
I'm always on the move and can't stay in one place for too long.

Can't stay in one place too long
I'm restless and need to keep moving.

You might look at me
People may see me and think they know me.

And I'll be gone
But I'll be gone before they even realize it.

Well you can love me if you wanna
People can love me if they want, but they need to understand my way of life.

But I do declare
I want to make it clear.

When I get restless
When I feel the need to move, nothing can stop me.

I got to move somewhere
I need to move to a new place.

Anywhere is my home
I feel at home wherever I go.

And I love the life I live
I love my free-spirited way of life.

And I'm gonna live the life I love
I'm going to continue my way of life because it's what I love.

Don't want no woman to tie me down
I don't want a woman to restrict my freedom.

Gotta be free baby to roam around
I need to be free to travel and explore.

All my life I've been like this
I've always been a free spirit.

You can love me at your own risk
People can love me, but they need to understand the risks involved.

When the dust hits my shoes
When I feel the urge to move again.

I got the urge to move
I feel the need to move again.

Gotta keep on, keepin' on
I need to keep moving forward.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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