Miller was born to Dr. George "Sonny" Miller, a pathologist, jazz enthusiast and amateur recording engineer, and Bertha, a jazz-influenced singer. In 1950, the family moved to Dallas, Texas. His first guitar chords were taught to him by the legendary Les Paul, pioneer of the electric guitar and also Miller's godfather. While at St. Mark's School of Texas, Miller formed his first band, The Marksmen. Miller taught classmate Royce Boz Scaggs some guitar chords so he could join the band; Scaggs became better known by his nickname, Boz. Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 1960s, where he formed The Ardells. Scaggs joined the Ardells the next year. Ben Sidran was added to the Ardells as a keyboardist the following year. Miller was only sixteen when he started college, and dropped out six credit hours shy of a literature degree. Les Paul encouraged young Miller to utilize his prodigal talents, and much of Miller's success has been attributed to Paul's tutelage during his childhood and teenage years.
Prior to forming the Steve Miller Band, Miller was in a band with Barry Goldberg called the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band. They formed in 1965, and released one single, before Miller left the band.
In 1968, Miller formed the Steve Miller Band, with Miller handling vocals, and released an album, Children of the Future, the first in a series of discs rooted solidly in the psychedelic blues style that dominated the San Francisco music scene at the time. Scaggs would leave the band after a couple of albums. Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace and Number 5 followed. These albums performed respectably on the album charts but failed to yield a hit. This first period in Steve Miller's music formed part of double album compilation "Anthology" which includes a guest appearance on drums by the then Beatle Paul McCartney on the song "My Dark Hour".
1973's The Joker marked the start of the second phase of Miller's career: more pop-oriented and simplistic, the album featured a number one hit in the U.S. in the title track as well as several other popular tunes. In fact, "The Joker" hit Number One on the UK singles chart in September 1990 after it was used on a television commercial.
Miller followed up The Joker with Fly Like an Eagle in 1976 and Book of Dreams in 1977. This pair of albums represented the peak of Miller's commercial career, both reaching the top echelons of the album charts and spawning a seemingly-endless series of hit singles, including "Rock'n Me", "Take the Money and Run", "Jet Airliner" and "Jungle Love". While critics lambasted Miller for abandoning his more ambitious approach and socially-aware lyrics for simple pop-rock and derivative blues tunes, fans gravitated towards the catchy, melodic songs in great numbers, and the Steve Miller Band co-headlined a major stadium tour with the Eagles in 1977.
On the heels of this massive success, Miller took a long hiatus from recording and touring, emerging in 1981 with Circle of Love, an ambitious album possibly intended to appease critics of his new style. Sales were disappointing, however, and in 1982 he returned to the pop formula with another hit album, Abracadabra. This was Miller's last great commercial success; a series of collections, live albums and attempts to find a new style appeared sporadically, but after 1993 Miller gave up producing records altogether. However, he collaborated with Paul McCartney on the former Beatle's 1997 Grammy-nominated album, Flaming Pie.
Heart Like a Wheel
Steve Miller Lyrics
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Feel like I got to roll
Oh
Heart like a wheel
I told you so
And I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
I love you so
Well, I can give what I take
And you know I want to give you my love
Babe I ain't faking
You know I want to give you my love
I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
Heart so real
I love you so
Come on and roll
I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
Heart so real
I love you so
It takes two to make love
It takes love to make a family real
I got to know what you need
I got to know what you really feel
And I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
Heart so real
I love you so
Come on and roll
You know it's such a pity
If you're going to get the summertime blues
Lovers everywhere are pairing off two by twos
And I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
Heart so real
I love you so
I've been loving you for so long
You are the one
Heart so real
I love you so
I've got a heart like a wheel
I love you so
I've got a heart like a wheel
I've got to roll
The lyrics of Steve Miller's "Heart Like a Wheel" speak of a love that is enduring, passionate and selfless. The opening lines "I've got a heart like a wheel, feel like I got to roll" suggest a sense of restlessness, a desire to keep moving forward with the love that he has for his partner. The repetition of the phrase "heart like a wheel" emphasizes this point, as the singer tries to convey the depth and intensity of his emotions.
The singer acknowledges that he has been "loving you for so long" and that "you are the one, heart so real." He emphasizes his commitment to the relationship, claiming that he can "give what I take." The repeated assertion that "I love you so" serves as a reminder of the strength of his feelings.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer understands that sustaining a loving relationship takes work, that "it takes two to make love" and "love to make a family real." He wants to know what his partner needs and how she truly feels, emphasizing the importance of communication and empathy in a successful relationship. Overall, the song celebrates the joy and complexity of love, emphasizing the need for openness, communication and mutual commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a heart like a wheel
My heart is restless and constantly moving
Feel like I got to roll
I have an urge to keep moving and not stay in one place
Oh
Exclamation of emotion, possibly excitement or passion
I told you so
I previously warned you or predicted something and it has now come true
And I've been loving you for so long
I have been deeply in love with you for a significant amount of time
You are the one
You are my true love and the one I want to be with
Heart so real
My emotions and feelings for you are genuine and authentic
I love you so
I am deeply in love with you
Well, I can give what I take
I am willing to reciprocate love and give as much as I receive
And you know I want to give you my love
You already know that I desire to express my love for you
Babe I ain't faking
I am being sincere and genuine in my expressions of love
Come on and roll
Let's keep moving and experiencing life together
It takes two to make love
A meaningful romantic relationship requires effort and investment from both partners
It takes love to make a family real
Love is what binds a family together and makes it meaningful
I got to know what you need
It is important for me to understand your wants and needs in the relationship
I got to know what you really feel
It is important for me to understand your true emotions and thoughts
You know it's such a pity
It is a shame or unfortunate that
If you're going to get the summertime blues
If you feel unhappy or down during the summer season
Lovers everywhere are pairing off two by twos
Many couples are forming romantic relationships and finding love
I've got a heart like a wheel
My heart is free and constantly moving
I love you so
I am deeply and passionately in love with you
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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