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.
Replace the Face
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She looks kinda pretty, the music is slow
I walk up to her table and I say "hello"
I ask her to dance, and as we start to move
It's hard to keep from thinkin' that I wish she was you
My friends told me what to do in this case
Replace the faceâ?¦ but I keep seein' you
You're just a memory that I can't erase
Replace the face
We're dancin' and talking', then I take her home
She makes us some coffee and we're all alone
Now she wants to be where only you have been
And I really want to love her but I can't give in
Still thinkin' while I'm in her embrace
Replace the face
Your face makes me face what's true
That I'm with somebody else 'cause I can't have you
Your face used to make me smile
But you're not around, and now it only breaks me down
If you'd only see me, I could work this through
Good bye would be better than just waiting for you
I know I didn't fall in love with you by myself
So won't you help me now honey, let me love someone else
Don't want my heart to be a wasted space
Replace the face
Replace the faceâ?¦you know I'm tryin', I'm tryin'
Replace the faceâ?¦but my heart's not buyin'
Replace the faceâ?¦that's somethin' I can't do
Replace the faceâ?¦'cause it's just you, you
Replace the faceâ?¦replace it, replace it
© 1982 Angie Enterprises
The song "Replace the Face" by Steppenwolf tells the story of a man who is trying to move on from a past love. He meets someone who is attractive and they dance and talk, but the whole time he can't help but wish she was his previous love. He takes her home, but still can't give her the love that she wants because he is still haunted by the memory of his former love. The chorus repeats the title phrase "Replace the Face" as a way to try and convince himself that he can move on, but in reality, he knows that he can't.
The lyrics are emotionally charged and relatable to anyone who has ever tried to move on from a past love. It captures the internal struggle that comes with trying to start a new relationship while still being caught up in memories of a former one. The slow tempo of the music adds to the contemplative tone of the song, emphasizing the emotional turmoil that the main character is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
She looks kinda pretty, the music is slow
He sees a pretty girl, in a slow music scene
I walk up to her table and I say "hello"
He approaches the girl and greets her
I ask her to dance, and as we start to move
He asks her to dance and they begin to move
It's hard to keep from thinkin' that I wish she was you
He wishes that the girl he is dancing with was the one he really loves
My friends told me what to do in this case
His friends advised him on what to do in this situation
Replace the faceâ?¦. you know I'm tryin' to
He is trying to replace the face of the girl he is with
Replace the faceâ?¦ but I keep seein' you
He keeps seeing the face of the one he really loves
You're just a memory that I can't erase
The girl he truly loves is an unforgettable memory he cannot erase
We're dancin' and talking', then I take her home
They dance and talk, then he takes her home
She makes us some coffee and we're all alone
They are alone and she makes coffee
Now she wants to be where only you have been
The girl he is with now wants to do the things he only did with the one he truly loves
And I really want to love her but I can't give in
He wants to love the girl he is with now, but he cannot give in
Still thinkin' while I'm in her embrace
He still thinks about the girl he truly loves while he is embracing the one he is with now
Your face makes me face what's true
He sees the face of the girl he truly loves and faces the truth about their situation
That I'm with somebody else 'cause I can't have you
He is with someone else because he cannot have the one he truly loves
Your face used to make me smile
The face of the girl he truly loves used to make him happy
But you're not around, and now it only breaks me down
She is not around now and he gets emotional and sad
If you'd only see me, I could work this through
If she could see him, they could work through their problems and be together
Good bye would be better than just waiting for you
He would rather say goodbye than wait for her forever
I know I didn't fall in love with you by myself
He knows he did not fall in love with her by himself, as she also had a role in their relationship
So won't you help me now honey, let me love someone else
He asks her to help him move on and love someone else
Don't want my heart to be a wasted space
He does not want his heart to be empty and meaningless
Replace the faceâ?¦you know I'm tryin', I'm tryin'
He continues to try and replace the face of the girl he truly loves
Replace the faceâ?¦but my heart's not buyin'
His heart is not convinced or satisfied with trying to replace the one he loves
Replace the faceâ?¦that's somethin' I can't do
He cannot replace the face of the girl he truly loves
Replace the faceâ?¦'cause it's just you, you
He cannot replace the face of the girl he loves because it is only her
Replace the faceâ?¦replace it, replace it
Despite his efforts to replace the face of the one he loves, he cannot do it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hamzah Yasin
I like how Steppenwolf has another motive in the snyder cut, proving himself to Darkseid so he can go home. Rather than just you know, being evil
James Tolbert
I agree. I love when characters even baddies have layers
Chasing Demons
Well yeah I mean it kind of gives a point to the movie rather than just being a really bad stupid movie like the other one was
Kolas
@Nathan King Just because most villains are like this that doesn't mean it's good. Imagine if Thanos was just evil, he wouldn't be nowhere as interesting.
67 Namra Joshi
@John Baliton lol your batman is copy of the shadow
Sikandar Habib
@John Baliton and what? Funny how he is a rip of yet he is better than the original.
DKDioKlau
I like the implication that as soon as Steppenwolf, mentioned Anti-Life, Darkseid sprints into the room and tells Desaad to get the fuck off the line.
Media Kira
More like he just throws Desadd aside “Move, fucker. Where’s my equation!”
Jewel Screaming Chango8387
@faizal gefferie deprived of life , dead
Kolas
Not really, it looked like Desaad called him.