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.
God Bless The Child
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
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Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
Yes, the strong gets more
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone, spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
He just worry 'bout nothin'
'Cause he's got his own
The lyrics of Steve Miller’s song God Bless The Child reflects on the importance of self-reliance and the disparity between the rich and the poor. The song’s lyrics convey the idea that those who possess wealth will continue to prosper while those who have nothing will continue to suffer. The line “Them that's got shall get, them that's not shall lose” reveals a grim reality of how wealth distribution is imbalanced in society.
The song reflects on the struggles of those who have nothing as they face the hardships of life without the means to care for themselves. The line “Empty pockets don't ever make the grade” highlights the difficulties of life without financial stability. However, the song also emphasizes the importance of having control over one's own life, regardless of their social status. Those who have their own means of generating income can live life free from the constraints of relying on others for support.
In essence, “God Bless The Child” emphasizes the value of self-reliance and the need for individuals to have control over their own lives. The song highlights the harsh reality of the way the world works, where the rich get richer while the poor continue to suffer. However, the song also acknowledges the power of independence and the agency that comes with being able to provide for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Them that's got shall get
Those who already have wealth and resources will continue to accumulate more wealth and resources.
Them that's not shall lose
Those who do not have wealth and resources will continue to lose out on opportunities to acquire them.
So the Bible said and it still is news
This phenomenon has been recognized and discussed for centuries, and it is still true today.
Mama may have, papa may have
Even if a person's parents have wealth and resources, they cannot guarantee that those things will be passed down to their children.
But God bless the child that's got his own
Children who have the ability to acquire their own wealth and resources are seen as fortunate and blessed.
Yes, the strong gets more
The people who are already in a position of strength and power are the most likely to gain even more strength and power.
While the weak ones fade
People who do not have access to resources and opportunities are more likely to struggle and suffer.
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
People who are poor or lacking in resources will never be able to reach their full potential due to the limitations placed on them by their circumstances.
Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone, spending ends
They don't come no more
People are often only interested in someone because of their wealth, and will abandon them when that wealth is gone or unavailable.
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Even wealthy family members may not be willing to provide much support, and those who do receive support should be cautious not to become too dependent or greedy.
He just worry 'bout nothin'
'Cause he's got his own
Those who have wealth and resources do not have to worry as much about their personal needs or the needs of their loved ones, as they have the means to take care of themselves.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Herzog, Billie Holiday
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind