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.
Livin
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
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Stand back, stand back
Stand back, stand back
Stand back, stand back
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Living in the U.S.A.
Where are you goin' to
What are you gonna do
Do you think that it will be easy
Do you think that it will be pleasin', hey
Stand back, what'd you say
Stand back, I won't pay
Stand back, I'd rather play
Stand back
It's my freedom
Ah, don't worry 'bout me, babe
I got to be free, babe
Hey
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Stand back, dietician
Stand back, television
Stand back, politician
Stand back, mortician
Oh, we got to get away
Living in the U.S.A.
Come on baby, Owwww
I see a yellow man, a brown man
A white man, a red man
Lookin' for Uncle Sam
To give you a helpin' hand
But everybody's kickin' sand
Even politicians
We're living in a plastic land
Somebody give me a hand, yeah
Oh, we're gonna make it, baby
Oh, we're going to shake it, baby
Oh, don't break it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on baby, hey
Hey, hey
In the U.S.A., babe yeah
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Don't worry 'bout me, babe
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
I got to be free
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Come on try it, you can buy it, you can leave it next week, yeah
Somebody give me a cheeseburger
The song "Living in the U.S.A." by the Steve Miller Band is an upbeat and energetic anthem that reflects the band's eclectic style. The song features a catchy chorus, with the refrain of "Doot do do do do doot doot, Living in the U.S.A." serving as a powerful rallying cry for listeners. The verses of the song explore topics such as freedom, politics, and society's plasticity, with Miller's lyrics taking a critical and often satirical look at American life.
The song is notable for its patriotic imagery and references to Uncle Sam, as well as its commentary on the political climate of 1971 when it was released. Miller uses a variety of metaphors to convey his message, including comparisons between politicians and morticians, and references to the plastic nature of contemporary American life. The song's infectious melody and catchy instrumentation make it a classic of the era, and an anthem that still resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand back, stand back
The singer is encouraging the listeners to step back and observe what's happening.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
The chorus emphasizes that the song is about life in the United States of America.
Where are you goin' to
What are you gonna do
Do you think that it will be easy
Do you think that it will be pleasin', hey
The singer is asking rhetorical questions, highlighting the challenges of living in the USA.
Stand back, what'd you say
Stand back, I won't pay
Stand back, I'd rather play
Stand back
The singer defies authority and prefers to do things his own way.
It's my freedom
Ah, don't worry 'bout me, babe
I got to be free, babe
Hey
The singer values his personal freedom and doesn't want others to worry about him.
Stand back, dietician
Stand back, television
Stand back, politician
Stand back, mortician
The singer lists various professions but doesn't hold them in high regard.
Oh, we got to get away
Living in the U.S.A.
Come on baby, Owwww
The singer yearns to escape the difficulties of life in the USA.
I see a yellow man, a brown man
A white man, a red man
Lookin' for Uncle Sam
To give you a helpin' hand
But everybody's kickin' sand
Even politicians
We're living in a plastic land
Somebody give me a hand, yeah
The singer observes that despite people's differences, everyone faces challenges in the United States. He feels that even politicians aren't helping, and wants someone to assist him.
Oh, we're gonna make it, baby
Oh, we're going to shake it, baby
Oh, don't break it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The singer is optimistic and believes he and his partner will persevere despite the difficulties of living in the USA.
Come on baby, hey
Hey, hey
In the U.S.A., babe yeah
The singer urges his partner to join him in navigating life in the USA.
Don't worry 'bout me, babe
Living in the U.S.A.
Living in the U.S.A.
I got to be free
Living in the U.S.A.
Come on try it, you can buy it, you can leave it next week, yeah
Somebody give me a cheeseburger
The singer reiterates his desire for freedom and tells his partner not to worry about him. He encourages listeners to try living in the USA but warns that it's not easy. He even jokes about wanting a cheeseburger, which could symbolize his desire for simplicity and comfort amidst chaos.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVE MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RIDETHESUNSHINE
4 July 2022
“It was as if the sensory overload that is American life had somehow led to sensory deprivation, a gilded weariness, where everything is permitted and nothing appreciated.” J. Maarten Troost
Stand back, stand back
Stand back, stand back
Stand back, stand back
Stand back, stand back
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Where are you goin' to
What are you gonna do
Do you think that it will be easy
Do you think that it will be pleasin', hey hey
Stand back, what'd you say
Stand back, I won't pay
Stand back, I'd rather play
Stand back
It's my freedom
Yeah, don't worry 'bout me, babe
I got to be free, babe
Hey, hey, hey. Come on.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Stand back, dietician
Stand back, television
Stand back, politician
Stand back, mortician
Oh, we got to get away
From living in the U.S.A.
Come on baby, Owwww
I see a yellow man, a brown man
A white man, a red man
Lookin' for Uncle Sam
To give you a helpin' hand
But everybody's kickin' sand
Even politicians
We're living in a plastic land
Somebody give me a hand, yeah
Oh, we're gonna make it, baby
Oh, we've got to shake it, baby
Oh, don't break it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on baby, hey
Oh hey, hey
Oh, in the U.S.A., babe yeah
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Don't worry 'bout me, babe
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
I'm living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
I've got to be free
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Oh yeah, go, go
Come on try it, you can buy it, you can leave it next week, yeah
Living in the U.S.A.
Somebody give me a cheeseburger
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
Oh, yeow! Come on, babe
Yeah, now.
Living in the U.S.A.
Doot do do do do doot doot
Living in the U.S.A.
(engine revving up)..
[spoken]
"Lefty Mudersbach is up ahead. All hope he's running right... He moves way ahead of the Howard Cam Special, and....he TAKES IT! The winner...Lefty Mudersbach... on the street side"
Song copyright: UMG On behalf of: CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92)
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” ― Ronald Reagan
“… When Franklin drew the lightning from the clouds, he little dreamed that in the evolution of science his discovery would illuminate the torch of Liberty for France and America. The rays from this beacon, lighting this gateway to the continent, will welcome the poor and the persecuted with the hope and promise of homes and citizenship. It will teach them that there is room and brotherhood for all who will support our institutions and aid in our development; but that those who come to disturb our peace and dethrone our laws are aliens and enemies forever.”
A Symbol
By Chauncey Mitchell Depew (1834–1928)
Will
@daveycooks1
Steve Miller has got to be one of the most under appreciated artists of all time.
@TheHeliumkid
his first five albums, for sure
@jamesshuel1519
We just saw him in concert in New Hampshire. He was GREAT.8/2022 pnss
@dennymcfastlane8530
Ya, and considering that Les Paul was Steve's God Father. Great editing for a Timeless Tune!!! 3:47
@mikekelly9851
How did you come to this conclusion?
@kathymchenry2208
Not to us!!!!!
@DrMorpheus
Great job of meshing vintage documentary footage to the one of my '60s favorites! "We're gonna make it, baby!"
@Ballenxj
Great song, great memories, Thumb up for this presentation.
@xsellz1033
It's perfect ! It is a masterpiece !
3:46 JUST EPIC)))
@metronorthwtrain1452
Old school muscle cars