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's Child
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 lyrics of Steppenwolf's "Jupiter's Child" depict an orphan girl who is different from everyone else. It is revealed that her father is a wizard who travels around the sun. The singer wishes to know the way back to where she came from, implying that she may not belong on Earth. The song suggests that she is a child of Jupiter, a planet associated with freedom, exploration, and non-conformity. The lyrics also suggest that she is struggling to fit in with humans and their ways of life, and that eventually, the madness of human society will make her lose her smile.
The song can be interpreted in many ways. One could read it as an exploration of the theme of otherness in society, or as a critique of societal norms and their oppressive nature. The song suggests that being different is not a bad thing, and that those who dare to be different should not be ostracized.
Line by Line Meaning
The one who reads the stars has told me
I have been informed by an expert in astrology
Why you're not like everyone
why you are different from others
Your father is a fiery wizard
Your dad possesses exceptional abilities and is full of energy
He travels all around the sun
He moves to different parts in the solar system
No one ever knew just where you came from
No one has a clue about your origin
Orphan girl, you grew up wild
Being an orphan, you had to learn to survive and be brave
Your father left you on the way home
Your father abandoned you during his journey
Yes, girl, you're a Jupiter's child
You are a child of a god or goddess from Jupiter planet
Wish I knew the way back
I desire to know the path to your origin
Back to where you came
Back to the place where you belong
Gladly I would leave here
I'm willing to depart from this earth
Take another name
Change my identity to escape earth's influence
I can tell by you, it must be true
I am convinced that you are not from earth
It's up on Jupiter's face
It is on Jupiter planet where you come from
They don't embrace our own disgrace
People on earth criticize and disrespect each other
Somebody, help me off this place
Please assist me in escaping from earth
You really quite belonged
You truly fit in with us
Like a pearl among the swine
You stand out in a group of low-quality individuals
You tried to live the way we do
You attempted to adapt to our way of living
Hoping you would learn in time
Expecting that someday you will understand our ways fully
But, mankind, with all it's virtue
But humanity, despite its good qualities
Will soon make you lose your smile
Will cause you to lose your joy and happiness
On this earth, with all it's madness
On this planet, with all its chaos and insanity
Heaven help a Jupiter's child
May the divine power aid and protect you, being a Jupiter child
Somebody, get me off this place
Get me out of here
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY EDMONTON, JOHN KAY, MICHAEL MONARCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
Wow what an excellent song.
@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.