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.
Jupiter
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you're not like everyone
Your father is a fiery wizard
He travels all around the sun
No one ever knew just where you came from
Orphan girl, you grew up wild
Your father left you on the way home
Yes, girl, you're a Jupiter's child
Wish I knew the way back
Back to where you came
Gladly I would leave here
Take another name
I can tell by you, it must be true
It's up on Jupiter's face
They don't embrace our own disgrace
Somebody, help me off this place
You really quite belonged
Like a pearl among the swine
You tried to live the way we do
Hoping you would learn in time
But, mankind, with all it's virtue
Will soon make you lose your smile
On this earth, with all it's madness
Heaven help a Jupiter's child
Wish I knew the way back
Back to where you came
Gladly I would leave here
Take another name
I can tell by you, it must be true
It's up on Jupiter's face
They don't embrace our own disgrace
Somebody, get me off this place
The song "Jupiter" by Steppenwolf is an exploration of the idea of feeling like an outsider and not belonging in this world, and the hope of finding a way to escape it. The lyrics describe a person who is different from everyone else, with a strong suggestion that they are not of this world. The "one who reads the stars" tells the singer that this person's father is a "fiery wizard" who travels all around the sun. This unknown person is then referred to as a "Jupiter's child" – implying that they are perhaps of extraterrestrial origin.
The song explores themes of alienation and disconnection from society, as well as the desire to escape from the pressures and constraints of human life. The singer wishes they knew the way back to where this otherworldly person came from, and they express the desire to leave this world and take on a new identity. The lyrics suggest that this person has tried to fit in with human society, but eventually, the madness of the world around them takes its toll, leading the singer to plead for help getting off this planet.
Overall, the lyrics of "Jupiter" paint a portrait of a person who is innately different and unable to connect with the people around them, leading to a desire to escape from the world they find themselves in.
Line by Line Meaning
The one who reads the stars has told me
Someone who can interpret astronomical phenomena has informed me.
Why you're not like everyone
You are not stereotypical, similar to everyone else.
Your father is a fiery wizard
Your dad is a magical person who is very passionate about what they do.
He travels all around the sun
He goes all over the place, but always returns to his starting point like in an orbit.
No one ever knew just where you came from
It’s difficult to tell how or from where you originally hail.
Orphan girl, you grew up wild
You were raised without parental guardianship and lived unrestrained.
Your father left you on the way home
Your father deserted you while traveling back from somewhere.
Yes, girl, you're a Jupiter's child
You're a special entity from the planet of Jupiter.
Wish I knew the way back
I wish I could return to a prior circumstance.
Back to where you came
To the place you initially emerged from.
Gladly I would leave here
I would willingly depart from here.
Take another name
To adopt a different moniker.
I can tell by you, it must be true
It’s clear to me through observation that it's factual.
It's up on Jupiter's face
It occurs in the visible exterior of the planet Jupiter.
They don't embrace our own disgrace
They don't accept our humiliating flaws and mistakes.
Somebody, help me off this place
Someone, extract me from this setting.
You really quite belonged
You were a good fit for your surroundings.
Like a pearl among the swine
In contrast to others around, you were an outstanding individual.
You tried to live the way we do
You attempted to conform to our societal norms.
Hoping you would learn in time
Expecting you would acquire knowledge gradually.
But, mankind, with all it's virtue
However, humanity, notwithstanding its moral excellence.
Will soon make you lose your smile
Will eventually make you unhappy or discontented.
On this earth, with all it's madness
On this planet, with all its lunacy.
Heaven help a Jupiter's child
May God assist a person of Jupiterian heritage.
Somebody, get me off this place
Someone, remove me from this location.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY EDMONTON, JOHN KAY, MICHAEL MONARCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lisarainbow9703
I never understood why this wasn't a bigger hit, the groove is contagious and fantastic.
@smwrbd
Because people are stupid. 🤔
@luisgustavofuynha675
@@smwrbd I accept
@gumballthechewy
It's honestly on my top 100 all time favourite songs!
@Raymondhow
Problem was, they made it a B-side for "Rock Me", a much weaker song in my opinion.
@markburnett7500
Why can't "classic" rock stations play something like this other than Born To Be Wild or Magic Carpet Ride over and over and over again?? Great songs but come on Steppenwolf recorded more than just 2 songs!!!
@kleebgaming5209
You gotta find yourself some better radio stations. I did a cross-country trip a few years ago and around Kansas City I caught a classic rock station that only played entire albums. I managed to catch Houses of the Holy, Aqualung, Machine Head, and the first side of From the Canteen. Talk about pure joy.
@markburnett7500
Thanks,i'll do that. Renegade by Styx is anoher that's played into the ground!
@slimshine953
+Mark Burnett Couldn't agree more. You expressed exactly the thought I've had for years about so called "classic" rock radio. The limited rotation of the same few, well known songs or hits by any band or artist. Also I have such contempt for the term classic rock. It was a marketing phrase coined by media ad execs in the early 90s, to appeal to the then slightly older boomer generation, with expendable income. Hence we saw the rise of hundreds of stations aimed at this age group.
@maryjanegreen7601
so many great tunes, completely overlooked