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.
Winter Time
Steve Miller Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When all the leaves are brown
And the wind blows so chill
And the birds have all flown for the summer
I'm callin', hear me callin', hear me callin'
In the winter time
When all the leaves are brown
And the birds have all flown for the summer
I'm callin', hear me callin', hear me callin'
I'm callin', hear me callin', hear me callin'
In the winter time
In the winter time
When all the leaves are brown
And the wind blows so chill
And the birds have all flown for the summer
I'm callin', hear me callin, hear me callin'
The lyrics of Steve Miller Band's Winter Time paint a picture of stillness and solitude in the midst of winter. Miller's words take the audience through the season from start to finish, focusing on the isolation that comes with winter's arrival. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song: "In the winter time when all the leaves are brown, And the wind blows so chill, And the birds have all flown for the summer." The chorus implores the audience to "hear me callin'," a phrase that repeats throughout the song.
One interpretation of the song is that it acts as a metaphor for loneliness. The cold and barren winter landscape provides a backdrop for Miller's feelings of isolation. However, the call in the chorus speaks to the hope that someone will hear his cry for companionship. The repetition of the phrase "hear me callin'" reinforces the sense of needing someone to listen.
The repetitive nature of the lyrics is deliberate, emphasizing the dull monotony of winter. The use of the same lines in each verse creates a cyclical feeling to the song, reflecting the cyclical nature of the seasons themselves. The melancholic tone underscores the idea that winter is a time for introspection and reflection before the coming of spring.
Line by Line Meaning
In the winter time
During the cold season of the year, when temperatures drop and nature turns dormant.
When all the leaves are brown
Referring to autumn having passed and the tree leaves turning brown and dying.
And the wind blows so chill
The cold wind is blowing strongly, making it feel even colder.
And the birds have all flown for the summer
Most birds migrate to warmer regions during the winter months, leaving a quieter atmosphere behind.
I'm callin', hear me callin', hear me callin'
The artist is trying to get someone's attention, calling repeatedly to make sure they are heard and noticed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luiz Bragantini
In the winter time
When all the leaves are brown
And the wind blows (So chill)
And the birds
Have all flown
For the summer
I'm callin'
Hear me callin'
Hear me callin'
Ah, ah
In the winter time
When all the leaves are brown
And the wind blows (So chill)
And the birds
Have all flown
For the summer
I'm callin'
Hear me callin'
Hear me callin'
I'm callin'
Hear me callin'
Hear me callin'
In the winter time
In the winter time
When all the leaves are brown
And the wind blows (So chill)
And the birds
Have all flown
For the summer
I'm callin'
Hear me callin'
Hear me callin'
RockAndFunk
Watch my MUSIC VIDEO for this song here: https://youtu.be/HmS1xZNyEKw
43 45
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I believe this song to be their masterpiece. Beautiful!
Able Bodied
Agreed!
Scott walker
I don't agree with your even questioning you great taste in music. I agree . Encompasses his work from early stuff right up to his later stuff. All of it genus , but this one captures his real soul.
43 45
@Scott walker this song is just so beautiful. I first heard it when I was 14 or so and is still a favorite of mine!
rich drake
I agree... a venue in time... an Odyssey. Exceptional music.
Anna Brown
I 💯 agree! My favorite!
AJF Fehr
I’m in my dad’s 1976 Ford F-150 driving home from school as this song plays on the 8-track.
Sacred moments in life are when the soul connects with music. It will lead us into eternity.
Franklin Carroll
Such an underrated song!
Buse Doğan
Tarihimin günahlarından geldim iki şarkı da mükemmel ötesi