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.

Sparkle Eyes
Steppenwolf Lyrics

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Oh, Woman, don't you know me?
Has it been so long that you forgot
I thought of you just yesterday
My time it has been dragging
And I've changed girl but so have you
Please don't turn your face away
It's in your eyes I know
Where did the sparkle go?

Sparkle eyes used to shine ev'ry day
God, I wish I never had seen you looking this way
Can't recall just who was wrong
Guess it doesn't matter now
To dredge the past I have no desire
But it hurts to feel your sadness
And to see the life you've led
Faceless fountains cooled your fire
It was mine not long ago
Where did the sparkle flow?

Sparkle eyes used to smile at the rain
Don't I wish that I could see it again
Where did the sparkle go?

Now if I only knew where to begin
Girl, I'd try to break your fall and stop your spin
But time has changed us both too many ways
And I'm looking at a strange and empty face

And you eyes used to shine every day
If I had only never seen you looking this way
Those faceless fountains they cooled your fire
It was mine not so very long ago
Your eyes would laugh at the rain
You don't know how I wish I could see it again

I just can't stand to watch goin' down slow
Where did the sparkle go?

Overall Meaning

The song “Sparkle Eyes,” written and performed by Steppenwolf, is a poignant reflection on the ways in which time can change people and relationships. The singer of the song is addressing a woman he once knew, expressing his sadness and confusion about how much they have both changed. He pleads with her to remember who he is, to see the person he still is despite the differences that have arisen between them. He laments the loss of the “sparkle” in her eyes, a quality that he recalls from their past and wishes could be restored. The song recognizes the complexity of human connections, acknowledging that the reasons for their distance and detachment are unclear, and that their separation is both painful and inevitable.

The lyrics of “Sparkle Eyes” suggest that time and life experience can cause individuals to undergo significant changes in personality, outlook, and attitude. This can result in a loss of connection with people with whom one once felt close, and even the disappearance of the qualities that once defined a person's identity. In the song, the singer recognizes that he has changed, as has the woman he addresses. He is saddened by this, wishing that he could go back to a time when they were both more innocent and less burdened by the weight of their lives. The song captures the bittersweet sense of nostalgia that often accompanies the realization that something once precious has been lost, and that it can never be fully regained.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, Woman, don't you know me?
The singer is asking if the woman he's addressing recognizes him.

Has it been so long that you forgot
He wonders if it's been such a long time that she no longer remembers him.

I thought of you just yesterday
The singer recently thought about the woman he's addressing.

My time it has been dragging
The artist feels like time has been passing slowly for him.

And I've changed girl but so have you
The artist and the woman he's addressing have both changed since they last saw each other.

Please don't turn your face away
The singer is asking the woman not to turn away from him.

It's in your eyes I know
The singer can tell how the woman is feeling just by looking at her eyes.

Where did the sparkle go?
The artist is wondering what happened to the woman's joyful spirit.

Sparkle eyes used to shine ev'ry day
The artist is recalling how the woman's eyes used to be bright and full of happiness.

God, I wish I never had seen you looking this way
The artist regrets seeing the woman looking unhappy and wishes he could go back to when she was happy.

Can't recall just who was wrong
The singer can't remember who or what caused the tension or unhappiness between him and the woman.

Guess it doesn't matter now
Despite not remembering who was at fault, the artist realizes that dwelling on the past won't change anything.

To dredge the past I have no desire
The singer has no interest in reliving past experiences or reminding someone of their past.

But it hurts to feel your sadness
Although the singer doesn't want to look back, seeing the woman unhappy still affects him emotionally.

And to see the life you've led
The singer has observed the path that the woman's life has taken.

Faceless fountains cooled your fire
Something or someone has drained the woman's passion and energy, causing her to appear emotionless and empty.

It was mine not long ago
The artist used to have the happiness and joy that the woman has lost.

Where did the sparkle flow?
The singer is wondering where his own happiness and joy went.

Sparkle eyes used to smile at the rain
The singer is remembering how the woman's eyes would look happy even in the rain.

Don't I wish that I could see it again
The artist wishes he could see that same happiness and joy in the woman's eyes once more.

Now if I only knew where to begin
The artist wants to help the woman but doesn't know how to start.

Girl, I'd try to break your fall and stop your spin
The artist wants to help the woman who is spiraling downwards, but he doesn't know how.

And I'm looking at a strange and empty face
The woman's current facial expression is unfamiliar and devoid of personality, leading the singer to feel disconnected from her.

Your eyes would laugh at the rain
The artist is remembering how the woman's eyes used to have joy even in rainy weather.

You don't know how I wish I could see it again
The singer wishes he could see that same joy and happiness in the woman's eyes once more.

I just can't stand to watch goin' down slow
The singer can't bear to see the woman slowly losing her happiness and spark.

Where did the sparkle go?
The singer is still wondering where the woman's happiness and spark went.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BIONDO KAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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