Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
Life Is A River
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is coming from within
What you hear is from my soul
Where do I begin
When I’m feeling all alone
It’s my salvation of my own
It’s funny how it helps me to be strong
Is one of my best friends
What you see as sawed up logs
Is the house that I live in
What you call a pile of stones
Is the foundation of my home
And we all know there’s nothing sweet as home sweet home
Life is a river
Let it flow
Let it flow
Life is a river
Let it flow
You’ve got to let it flow
Let that river flow
You’ve been left out once again
Standing in the rain
Now you feel you’ve reached the end
And you just can’t stand the pain
Even though you still remain
You’re God’s creation
This I know
Cuz’ life can be so beautiful
In the song "Life Is A River," Tesla's lead vocalist, Jeff Keith, sings about the soulful essence of life and its undulating nature. The lyrics expound on the fact that the meaning of a song goes beyond its surface-level beauty to express deep thoughts from within the soul. The first verse reveals that Jeff Keith speaks from within, and his feelings come from his very being. The lyrics make us realize that music comes only from the depths of the artists' heart and emotions.
Furthermore, Keith states that music uplifts him when he feels alone, providing him with the strength to move forward in life. In the second verse of the song, Keith portrays that one's insight is essential when viewing the world around them. The lyrics use symbolic representations to portray that even things that seem ordinary can carry an exceptional value. The pile of rocks and sawed-up logs signify the way one's life can be built up from the very things that appear to be insignificant. It is only after we take the time to search deeply into them that we realize their worth.
The chorus "Life is a river, let it flow" reminds us that life is continually flowing like a river and that we must embrace its uncertainty. One must learn to allow life to move them in various directions, just like a river that twists and turns its way through valleys, hills, and mountains. Life can be chaotic and unpredictable, but we must let it flow and enjoy the journey, just like the river's flow.
Line by Line Meaning
What you think is just a song
The emotions conveyed through my music is more than just a mere song
Is coming from within
It is originating from the depths of my being
What you hear is from my soul
The music that you hear is deeply rooted in my very soul
Where do I begin
It is hard to describe the absolute depth of my emotions
When I’m feeling all alone
There are times when I feel like I am alone in this world
It’s my salvation of my own
My music is my personal redemption
It’s funny how it helps me to be strong
It is ironic how my music gives me strength during my weakest moments
What you think is just a dog
My pet is not merely a pet, but one of my closest companions
Is one of my best friends
My animal friend is a constant source of love and companionship in my life
What you see as sawed up logs
The wood logs that you see are transformed into a beautiful, comfortable home
Is the house that I live in
My house is a reflection of my hard work and dedication
What you call a pile of stones
The rock pile that others might see is what keeps me grounded and supported in my life
Is the foundation of my home
The rocks form the foundation of my home, enabling my growth and stability in life
And we all know there’s nothing sweet as home sweet home
The comfort and stability of a home environment is unparalleled
Life is a river
Life flows like a river, constantly moving forward and changing
Let it flow
Allow life to take its course, instead of resisting or trying to control it
You’ve got to let it flow
It is crucial to let go of trying to control every aspect of life, and simply go with the flow
You’ve been left out once again
Feeling excluded can be a painful experience
Standing in the rain
It can feel like the world is pouring down on you at certain moments
Now you feel you’ve reached the end
It can feel like things will never improve or change
And you just can’t stand the pain
Pain can be unbearable and difficult to endure
Even though you still remain
Even though things can feel hopeless, there is always a glimmer of hope and possibility
You’re God’s creation
Everyone is a unique and worthwhile creation of a higher power
This I know
I am certain of this fact: everyone is created for a purpose
Cuz’ life can be so beautiful
Despite the pain and hardships of life, there is also indescribable beauty in the world
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alan Ramírez Hernández
A good song,good lyrics …the goods things in life are so easy to live…
David Cruz
Amazing!!! Love it!!!
P P
Great band and album. And solo is so much inspired by Stairway to heaven solo
Tammy Overstreet
I listened! Thank You