Ride With Me
Steppenwolf Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How ya gonna make it baby?
That's the question to be asked
Life goes on around you
In so many different ways
I know my share of histry
How hard it is to be free
From wearing masks that turn to skin
Hiding what could have been

And I, I, I'm so confused
Which way, which way to choose?
Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day

Mama's home philosophy
Make's everyone a freak but me
Though I'm starvin' in the streets
And can't predict the future
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the sanest of us all?
Is he with me or one of them?
How does he dress, who are his friends?

And I, I, I'm so confused
Which way, which way to choose?
Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day

Mama's home philosophy
Makes everyone a freak but me
Though I'm starvin' in the streets
And can't predict the future
Can I have my vision back?
I'll live outside your city walls
You don't have to be afraid
Until I come together





Ride with me Baby
'Til the end of the day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steppenwolf's song "Ride With Me" depict a sense of confusion and awareness of the complexities of life. The opening lines express a sense of doubt and uncertainty about one's ability to navigate through life's challenges. The next few lines convey the idea that life is happening all around us in various ways, yet it is difficult to be truly free from the expectations and demands that society places upon us.


The lyrics then delve into a more introspective look at the idea of individuality and sanity. The singer acknowledges the reality of being different from others, yet wondering who else among them is also sane. The lines "Is he with me or one of them? How does he dress, who are his friends?" highlight the constant inner questioning and self-doubt that can arise when one feels like an outsider.


The overall message of the song seems to be a call to action for the listener to break free from societal constraints and expectations. The repetition of the chorus, "Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day," can be interpreted as an invitation to join the singer on a journey towards self-discovery and authenticity.


Line by Line Meaning

How ya gonna make it baby?
This line expresses concern about an uncertain future and how to survive it.


That's the question to be asked
This line highlights the need to ask important questions about the future.


Life goes on around you
This line acknowledges the fact that life exists beyond just one's own perspective.


In so many different ways
This line recognizes the diversity of life experiences and situations.


I know my share of histry
This line suggests that the artist has a good understanding of past events.


How hard it is to be free
This line emphasizes the challenges of achieving true freedom.


From wearing masks that turn to skin
This line refers to the tendency to hide behind a facade that eventually becomes one's true personality.


Hiding what could have been
This line highlights the cost of not being true to oneself and the missed opportunities that result.


And I, I, I'm so confused
This line expresses the artist's confusion in the face of life's challenges.


Which way, which way to choose?
This line represents the difficult decision-making process that comes with navigating life's complexities.


Ride with me baby 'til the end of the day
This line represents an offer of companionship and support through the difficult journey of life.


Mama's home philosophy
This line refers to the philosophy taught by the artist's mother.


Make's everyone a freak but me
This line suggests that the singer feels like an outsider in society due to their differing beliefs.


Though I'm starvin' in the streets
This line acknowledges the singer's struggle to survive in a harsh environment.


And can't predict the future
This line highlights the singer's uncertainty about what is to come.


Mirror, mirror on the wall
This line is a reference to the fairytale Snow White and the question the evil queen asks the mirror.


Who's the sanest of us all?
This line expresses the artist's desire to know the truth about who is truly sane in an insane world.


Is he with me or one of them?
This line represents the singer's confusion about who can be trusted as an ally.


How does he dress, who are his friends?
This line refers to the outward appearances and associations that can help identify trustworthy individuals.


Can I have my vision back?
This line suggests that the artist has lost their clarity of vision and desires to regain it.


I'll live outside your city walls
This line represents the artist's desire to live outside of societal norms and expectations.


You don't have to be afraid
This line reassures others that there is no need to fear the artist's different way of life.


Until I come together
This line represents the singer's need to fully understand themselves and their purpose before they can fully engage with society again.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARS BONFIRE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Paul Hooson

Steppenwolf's rewrite of this great song into another of their biker hits was just plain excellent. Love the guitar punctuations and many other moments that make this great. After, the instrumental part in the middle, John Kay's voice comes back with more determination and more deliberate music and guitar punch, ending the song on a real high. Such a great Steppenwolf classic!

Preston Ward

What a good song . Should have been Played on the radio air waves. Good Rock - n- Roll .✌️

Les Schoenberger

It did get some airplay but when this came out in 1971 some stations were leaning towards "softer" rock and this obviously isn' t that! It's a great tune that I feel if it had been put out about a year earlier would've been a huge hit, it fits right in the Steppenwolf mold but for some reason didn't hit it big.

john ventre

Steppenwolf has to be one of the greatest bands of all time. I would listen to them instead of doing my home work when I was a kid............

Nancy DeLoach

Let's not 4 get they were around in the 60s...before Nazareth, before Ozzy...

Nancy DeLoach

Ur so right. I am 58. I started listening 2 them hard core at 12 yrs of age. 1973

simon napier

In the future we will realize the most progressive thing we can do is burn one and listen to Stepp.

T3PO

john ventre Me, too! Definitely one of the greatest bands ever! The rock music of the '60s and '70s was the finest music ever made. It's all I ever listen to.

t9407ts

I was a kid learning Guitar, playing in a neighborhood band 5th grade playing at parties and outdoor gigs by 7th grade, we rocked and this is the stuff that inspired me. I still love theses guys.

John Smith

probably my favorite Wolf song-especially cool guitar riff interactions with the note slides,etc...very 60's,very groovy... unfortunately, music with this kind of feel to it has been extinct for some time.

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