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.
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Steppenwolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight
Oh my, did you do something wrong?
You got messed up while sitting on the throne
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
We saw your daughter's burning the stag
Then take a look beside you on the ground
Yes mam', I saw the old man
Sleeping off his trip beside two stimulation cans
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
We saw your daughter's burning the stage
The lyrics to Steppenwolf's song "Don't Cry" seem to be a mix of comforting words and some social commentary. The opening lines, "Don't cry, it's gonna be alright. I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight," suggest that the singer is trying to soothe someone who is upset about a situation. However, the following lines reveal that something has gone wrong - "Oh my, did you do something wrong? You got messed up while sitting on the throne." The mention of the throne may refer to a drug addiction, as the verb "messed up" suggests being under the influence of something. The singer seems aware that their friend has a problem, but is still offering support.
The next few lines, "Dear ladies won't you turn a new page. We saw your daughter's burning the stag," are a bit puzzling. It's unclear who the "ladies" are and what "burning the stag" means in this context. One interpretation is that the singer is addressing a group of women who are somehow responsible for a violent or destructive act (perhaps symbolic of societal unrest or upheaval), and is encouraging them to change their ways.
The final lines, "Look up, turn your head around. Then take a look beside you on the ground. Yes mam', I saw the old man. Sleeping off his trip beside two stimulation cans. Dear ladies won't you turn a new page. We saw your daughter's burning the stage," continue this theme of social commentary. The image of the "old man" passed out beside "stimulation cans" suggests drug use or addiction, while the repetition of the previous lines reinforces the urgency of the singer's message. Overall, "Don't Cry" seems to be a cautionary tale about the perils of drugs and other destructive behavior, tempered by a desire to offer support and hope for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry, it's gonna be alright.
Don't worry, everything will be fine.
I'm goin' to listen to what you have to say tonight
I'll listen to you tonight.
Oh my, did you do something wrong?
Did you make a mistake?
You got messed up while sitting on the throne
You made a mistake while in a position of power.
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
Women, please change your ways.
We saw your daughter's burning the stag
We saw girls setting fire to a statue of a deer.
Look up, turn your head around
Look up and turn your head.
Then take a look beside you on the ground
Look at the ground next to you.
Yes mam', I saw the old man
Yes, ma'am, I saw the elderly man.
Sleeping off his trip beside two stimulation cans
Sleeping after using two cans of a stimulating substance.
Dear ladies won't you turn a new page
Women, please change your ways.
We saw your daughter's burning the stage
We saw girls setting fire to the stage.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gabriel Mekler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@glennhughes9594
I was in middle school when I found a best of steppenwolf tape in my dads car. So I put it in the tape deck and the first song I heard was this one and I loved it. Then I heard sookie sookie. I have been listening to them ever since. My son was listening to them while I had them playing on my phone. He said who is this Dad? I said Steppenwolf son. He sat there lightly bobbing his head to the groove and said they’re pretty good. That was a proud Dad moment for me.
@adamparker6048
That made my heart swell, priceless.
@datoorion
I was encouraged to go take your pick of about 400 vinyls.... There was a couple of these guys
@kaitlinpowell7167
I love this🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼 My mother introduced me to The Stepping Wolf,When I was a little girl. They'll never be another that is for dang sure ,Thanks for sharing your story made me smile 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
@farleytrading
@@datoorion I have over 2500 vinyls with many of these guys in there! lol
@ejdet.feeney9020
I even as a kid listened to Steppenwolf I grew up
In 70s every now and then on car radio would hear Born to be wild or Don’t step on the Grass Sam
@lindseyb0303
These guys are about 40 years overdue for R&R Hall of Fame.
@Heimdallr00
The issue may well be that their music isn't as much rock-and-roll as it is in a category all its own.
@youtubesucks4535
As soon as they put that rap and hip hop crap in the RRHOF any category should be open.
@bobfritz1466
The moment Abba got in, everything should have been fair game.