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.
Wide River
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singin' dear dear ocean now, here is a kiss from me
And she runs like a river to the setting sun
She runs like a river that has never been won
She runs like a river that will always be free
Wide river, carry me back home
To the place I love, that I call my own
Run like a river that has never been won
Run like a river that will always be free
Wide river, do you remember me?
It was not so long ago that you set me free
And now I run like a river to the setting sun
I run like a river that has never been won
I run like a river that will always be free
Come on baby, let's run in circles
Come on darlin', let's circle each other
And find our love, all the love that we need
Come on baby, let's circle each other
What we can do, do for each other
I'll do for you, and you'll do for me
And we can run like a river to the setting sun
Run like a river that has never been won
Run like a river that will always be free
In Steve Miller Band's song "Wide River," the lyrics depict a vast, open river that flows openly and freely, running like an unbroken current toward the setting sun. The river serves as a metaphor for freedom and escape, as the singer requests that the river carries them back to their home, where they can be with the one they love. The repetition of the phrase "run like a river" reflects the power, strength, and continuity that the singer perceives in the river, despite any obstacles it may encounter.
As the chorus repeats, the singer asks the river if it remembers freeing them not so long ago, perhaps serving as a reminder of a past struggle that they managed to overcome. There is a sense of comfort and nostalgia associated with the river, which represents a place of peace and solace in the midst of chaos. The song's second half shifts its focus to the relationship between two individuals, encouraging them to "circle each other" and find the love they need. The ending returns to the theme of the river as the song concludes with the singer still running free like a river that will always be free.
Line by Line Meaning
Wide river she opens her mouth to the sea
The river flows into the vast ocean, merging with it seamlessly.
Singin' dear dear ocean now, here is a kiss from me
The river humbly pays its respect to the ocean, offering it love and gratitude in the form of a kiss.
And she runs like a river to the setting sun
The river flows tirelessly towards the horizon, chasing the sun as it sets in the distance.
She runs like a river that has never been won
The river flows with a sense of freedom, without any restriction or domination.
She runs like a river that will always be free
The river retains its natural essence of freedom no matter where it flows or what it encounters in its path.
Wide river, carry me back home
The singer yearns to return back to the place they call home, and seeks the river's help to take them there.
To the place I love, that I call my own
The singer dreams of going back to the place that they hold dear, and can truly call their own.
And we can run like a river to the setting sun
Together, the artist and the river can journey towards the horizon, running endlessly towards the sunset.
Run like a river that has never been won
The journey will not be about winning or conquering something, but about enjoying the journey itself, floating freely like a river.
Run like a river that will always be free
They can cherish their sense of freedom and spontaneity, which is essential to their journey forward.
Wide river, do you remember me?
The singer fondly reminisces a time when they shared a deep bond with the river.
It was not so long ago that you set me free
The river had helped the artist break free from their past, and they are grateful for this.
And now I run like a river to the setting sun
The singer's journey forward mirrors the river's own journey, running tirelessly towards the horizon.
Come on baby, let's run in circles
The singer invites their loved one to join them, to run in joyous circles together.
Come on darlin', let's circle each other
They want their loved one to revolve around them, to share a close, intimate bond.
And find our love, all the love that we need
By circling each other, they hope to find the true love and support that they need from each other.
What we can do, do for each other
They want to do everything in their power to help each other, going above and beyond in their relationship.
I'll do for you, and you'll do for me
In a trusting relationship, they know that they can count on each other to help them grow and thrive, and they are willing to reciprocate this support in every way possible.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheDustysix
Outstanding Quality!
Michael Larocca
I first heard this song hanging out with my grandfather in his garage. Took me 25 years to find it again and now im shedding a tear. I learned so much about life in that workshop.
Adrian Jenkins
I just heard this song in my local grocery store. I had completely forgotten about it. It's great.
SuperSkunkyGrow
Same but with my pops
Grabasandwich
The way he can perfectly harmonize/double track his voice is incredible. Way before Auto-Tune and all that crap 🤯❤️
Doctor Feinstone
Nope. Auto tune, voice layering, reverb, etc was a thing way before this. Just listen to Gary Lewis
Vincent Gregorek
So many fines memories attached to this song for us.Thank you and bless you Steve Miller for all of the good time music you’ve given us through the years.
SuperSkunkyGrow
This was my favorite song to play when I got to ride in my dads work truck back in the day as a kid. He Had this album on cd
Bethel Abba
it's sad that this song has so little recognition. It is definitely one of Steve & Band's best cuts and if it had been released in the 1970's, it would have been a top 10 hit.
Math? Music!
That clean rock sound and perfect harmonies of the Steve Miller Band are evident here, clearly. Nice song! I saw him years ago with his band, and they were into jazz!!