Steve Miller (born 5 October 1943) is a blues and rock and roll guitarist and performer. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but attended high school in Dallas. While at St. Mark's School of Texas, he formed his first band, The Marksmen. Miller taught one of his classmates, Royce Boz Scaggs, a few guitar chords so that 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.
In 1968, Miller formed the Steve Miller Band, with Scaggs 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 with vocal chores taken over by drummer Tim Davis; Miller himself would begin singing occasional lead on 1969's Brave New World. These albums performed respectably on the album charts but failed to yield a hit.
In the 1970's the band had some hits that became classics over the years - Jet Airliner, with some evocative lyrics that brought home the loss of life on the road; and The Joker which includes the famous line about the "pompatus of love", which is of course nonsense, but that didn't stop a lot of stoned folks from spending years talking amongst themselves.
Steve Miller's father was a wealthy doctor in Dallas, and friends with famous guitarist and guitar designer Les Paul. Les Paul gave Miller his first guitar lessons.
Longtime member Norton Buffalo (harmonica player) died from lung cancer on October 30, 2009.
John King (drummer during "The Joker" era) died after a short bout of kidney cancer on October 26, 2010.
Band-member James Cooke died from cancer on 16 May 2011.
Blue Eyes
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's hard to tell by the company I keep
That I'm tryin' to live in a state of grace
It's risky business, it's the queen of hearts
That's the way it is, there's no holds barred
But if your dream comes true, there's something to sing about
Don't lie, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose your love
Sweet satisfaction, wrapped in the arms of a warm embrace
No fascination could ever take your place
Light up the shadows
Brick by brick the walls come down
Who can judge your magic love
So mystically profound
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to cry
Don't cry, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose your love
Ooh, I need you
You know I need you so much
Ooh, I need
I can't resist your warm touch
Eyes, blue eyes
How many times must the words be spoken
Eyes, blue eyes
How many times must the heart be broken tonight
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose your love
Sweet satisfaction, wrapped in the arms of a warm embrace
No fascination could ever take your place
Light up the shadows
Brick by brick the walls come down
Who can judge your magic love
So mystically profound
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to cry
Don't cry, I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose your love
Ooh, I need you
You know I need you so much
Ooh, I need
I can't resist your warm touch
Eyes, blue eyes
How many times must the words be spoken
Eyes, blue eyes
How many times must the heart be broken tonight
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
Don't lie
I don't want to lose
Blue eyes, I don't want to cry
Don't cry
The song "Blue Eyes" by the Steve Miller Band is about a man who is trying to live in a state of grace, but finds it hard to maintain his moral identity because of the company he keeps, which is half angelic and half sinful. He feels like he is in a risky game with no limits, and he is aware that the Queen of Hearts is his biggest danger. However, if he manages to overcome his challenges, there will be something to celebrate, and he will not lose the love of his blue-eyed partner. The lyrics suggest a fear of betrayal, losing trust and being hurt, followed by the desperation to keep the relationship going.
The song portrays the internal conflict that a person goes through when trying to maintain his moral identity while surrounded by temptation. The lyrics emphasize the importance of blue eyes, implying that they are a symbol of strength and stability in the character's life. The song is a perfect example of the Steve Miller Band's style of music, which is a blend of blues, rock, and psychedelic music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm half a sinner, and I'm half a saint
I am neither perfectly good nor perfectly bad.
It's hard to tell by the company I keep
My associates do not reveal whether I am good or bad.
That I'm tryin' to live in a state of grace
I am attempting to live virtuously.
It's risky business, it's the queen of hearts
Living virtuously is dangerous, like gambling with high stakes.
That's the way it is, there's no holds barred
That is just the reality, and I must accept it.
But if your dream comes true, there's something to sing about
If something you wished for happens, it is worth celebrating.
Blue eyes, I don't want to lose you
I do not want to lose my significant other with blue eyes.
Don't lie, I don't want to lose
Do not deceive me, I do not want to lose this person.
I don't want to lose your love
I do not want to lose the affection of my significant other.
Sweet satisfaction, wrapped in the arms of a warm embrace
Being held by someone you love is immensely fulfilling.
No fascination could ever take your place
No other person could replace the person I love.
Light up the shadows
Eliminate the darkness or negativity in one's life.
Brick by brick the walls come down
Step by step, barriers can be removed.
Who can judge your magic love
Nobody can truly assess the love shared by two individuals.
So mystically profound
Very deep or complex in a spiritual way.
Don't cry
Do not make me sad by leaving me.
Ooh, I need you
I deeply require your presence in my life.
How many times must the words be spoken
How often do I need to express my love?
How many times must the heart be broken tonight
How many heartbreaks will occur tonight?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LES DUDEK, RITCHOTTE ROCKET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind