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.
Tokin
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While people all around me
They are finding it harder to dream
Impossible people seen only in nightmares
Are beginning to make it real
And disorder keeps fadin'
The times they are changin'
Well, I wish I was behind the wheel
So I could live it just a little bit longer
Do my best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
We've got to live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
Well, time and time and time again
I've been stuck out in the rain
But life has been so doggone sweet
There's no reason to complain
But the time has come for all to be one
Yes, we can talk about it now
And from the middle of the mess
Here comes one more guess
And I know it's gonna work somehow
If we can live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
We've got to live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
Cause we've gotta live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
We've got to live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
Now who would ever believe it could happen
Right here in my hometown
Especially when it's so far north
Of the Mason-Dixon line
But some of the people they just won't forget
While others slip into regret
And if things keep goin' the way they're goin'
I just might get killed yet
But I wanna live it just a little bit longer
Do my best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
We've got to live it just a little bit longer
Do our best to make our love stronger
In a while I know it's gonna change
And in a while I know it's gonna change
And in a while I know it's gonna change
The lyrics to Steve Miller's "Tokin's" convey a sense of unease and uncertainty about the future, both on a personal level and in a broader societal context. The singer is seated in the back of a limousine, getting high, and observing the people around him struggling to hold onto their dreams amidst a world that seems to be descending into chaos. He wishes he was in control, able to "make our love stronger" and hold onto the present just a little bit longer.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency – the repeated refrain of "live it just a little bit longer" suggests that time is running out, and we have to do everything we can to hold onto what we have. The lyrics touch on themes of unity ("the time has come for all to be one") and the danger of forgetting our past ("some of the people they just won't forget / while others slip into regret").
Overall, "Tokin's" is a song that captures a moment in time, where the world feels like it's on the brink of change – a feeling that is likely to resonate with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' gettin' higher in the back of a limousine
I am in the backseat of a limo, smoking weed and feeling elevated
While people all around me, They are finding it harder to dream
Others are struggling to find hope and inspiration
Impossible people seen only in nightmares, Are beginning to make it real
Fearful scenarios are becoming a reality
And disorder keeps fadin', The times they are changin', Well, I wish I was behind the wheel
Things are changing and I wish I had more control
So I could live it just a little bit longer, Do my best to make our love stronger
I want to enjoy life more and work on improving my relationship
In a while I know it's gonna change, We've got to live it just a little bit longer, Do our best to make our love stronger
Change is coming, so we should cherish the moment and work on strengthening our bond
Well, time and time and time again, I've been stuck out in the rain, But life has been so doggone sweet, There's no reason to complain
Although I have faced difficulties, I feel grateful for the good things in my life
But the time has come for all to be one, Yes, we can talk about it now, And from the middle of the mess, Here comes one more guess, And I know it's gonna work somehow
It's time for unity and communication, even in difficult situations
Now who would ever believe it could happen, Right here in my hometown, Especially when it's so far north, Of the Mason-Dixon line
Unexpected things can occur in my own town, despite its location in the Northern US
But some of the people they just won't forget, While others slip into regret, And if things keep goin' the way they're goin', I just might get killed yet
Some people hold onto grudges while others dwell on past mistakes or wrongs. There is potential for danger if things continue on a negative path
And in a while I know it's gonna change
Change is inevitable
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind