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.
Tighten Up Your Wig
Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to lift up your feet, girl, and take a look around
Let me see your eyes girl
We've got to make them big
If you'd like to see the truth
I'd better tighten up your wig
Your mind is too narrow, and it's no surprise
Oh, let me see your head, girl, we've got to make it big
Until your ears come apart,
I better tighten up your wig
Watch out for the lunch bunch, they'll try bring you down
Don't get hung up in the shower, baby, you might drown
Oh yeah, oh, your head looks kinda big
Before I loose you mind, girl,
I better tighten up your wig
Just before we go, I'd like to mention Junior Wells
We stole his thing from him, and he from someone else
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he plays the blues like few before
May he play forevermore
The lyrics to Steppenwolf's "Tighten Up Your Wig" are a powerful message about having an open mind and being aware of one's surroundings. The opening line, "What can you see with your ear on the ground," is a call to pay attention to the world beyond what one can see with their eyes. The song urges the listener to lift up their feet and take a look around in order to find the truth. The line, "Let me see your eyes girl, we've got to make them big," suggests that the truth can be painful and difficult to accept, but it's important to face it.
The chorus, "If you'd like to see the truth, I'd better tighten up your wig," is a metaphor for the need to be mentally prepared to face reality. The song recognizes that some people have narrow minds and warns that falling on a pin could make one blind in both eyes. The emphasis on making the head big and the ears come apart suggests that understanding the truth takes effort and openness. The lyrics warn against the dangers of being around negative people and getting caught up in difficult situations.
Overall, "Tighten Up Your Wig" is a reminder that understanding the truth takes work and a willingness to face uncomfortable realities. The song delivers this message through clever metaphors, vivid imagery, and a sense of urgency.
Line by Line Meaning
What can you see with your ear on the ground
You need to broaden your perspective to gain a better understanding of what's happening around you.
Try to lift up your feet, girl, and take a look around
Instead of being stuck in your ways, you should make an effort to explore your surroundings and gain new experiences.
Let me see your eyes girl
I want to see if you truly understand what I'm saying.
We've got to make them big
You need to have an enlightened outlook on life that allows you to see the truth about the world around you.
If you'd like to see the truth
The only way to fully comprehend reality is to embrace a more expansive worldview.
I'd better tighten up your wig
I need to make sure you're ready to handle the truth.
Your mind is too narrow, and it's no surprise
You tend to have a closed-minded view of the world which is not surprising.
If you fell on a pin, well, you'd be blind in both eyes
Your inability to see beyond your own perspective is preventing you from truly understanding the world.
Oh, let me see your head, girl, we've got to make it big
You need to adopt a more expansive way of thinking to truly see the world for what it is.
Until your ears come apart,
I'll keep pushing you to broaden your perspective until you can see beyond what you thought was possible.
I better tighten up your wig
I will keep pushing you to embrace a more open worldview until you're truly ready to see the world clearly.
Watch out for the lunch bunch, they'll try bring you down
Be wary of those who seek to hold you down or limit your perspective.
Don't get hung up in the shower, baby, you might drown
Don't be so deep in your own thoughts that you lose sight of the bigger picture.
Oh yeah, oh, your head looks kinda big
You're starting to see the world from a more expansive perspective.
Before I lose your mind, girl,
I want to make sure you don't become trapped in a close-minded perspective.
I better tighten up your wig
I'll keep pushing you to broaden your perspective until you're truly ready to see the world clearly.
Just before we go, I'd like to mention Junior Wells
Before we wrap up, I want to pay tribute to Junior Wells.
We stole his thing from him, and he from someone else
We all borrow from those who came before us, who themselves were inspired by someone else.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he plays the blues like few before
Junior Wells was an exceptional musician, who had an incredible impact on the blues world.
May he play forevermore
May his legacy live on and continue to inspire generations to come.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN KAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
groovyhippyman
What can you see with your ear on the ground
Try to lift up your feet, girl, and take a look around
Let me see your eyes girl
We've got to make them big
If you'd like to see the truth
I'd better tighten up your wig
Your mind is too narrow, and it's no surprise
If you fell on a pin, well, you'd be blind in both eyes
Oh, let me see your head, girl, we've got to make it big
Until your ears come apart,
I better tighten up your wig
Watch out for the lunch bunch, they'll try bring you down
Don't get hung up in the shower, baby, you might drown
Oh yeah, oh, your head looks kinda big
Before I loose you mind, girl,
I better tighten up your wig
Just before we go, I'd like to mention Junior Wells
We stole his thing from him, and he from someone else
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he plays the blues like few before
May he play forevermore
Martta Kelly
Love this album!
TJDENT
Lyrics are great. “Fall on a pin and poke out both eyes”. Just one example. Great group. I just listened to this for the first time in 50 plus years. Still remembered most lyrics.
Dan Moore
Unlike one of my other favorite bands, Led Zeppelin, these guys say what is the truth. That is, the blues belong to us all!
thelaststraw
Great album! Thanks for posting.
ChihuahuaboyDH
A great song by Steppenwolf! I love the blues mixed with metal! Just what exactly is meant by the title "Tighten Up Your Wig"? Bravo, John Kay!
tom w
i got a lot of blues education from this album back in 68. Used to listen to this on cassette while riding in my friend's mon's 67 Mustang with the 289. Great car. It's a wonder we weren't killed, the way he drove.
Steve Palmer
Have loved this song since it came out!
tom d
Cool! Steppenwolf plays bugalú. i can't get enough of that beat. im so glad it became so popular in the 60's in both rock and jazz. thank you very much for sharing and greetings from Yokohama.
Samuel Isaac
Favorite album from my favorite band
Cindy Dufala
Love this then. Love it now Jan 18, 2020. Bravo ⚘