The second album I ever purchased was Steppenwolf Live, released in 1970. I spent countless hours listening to the incredible live versions of the band's well-known classics like The Pusher, Magic Carpet Ride, Born to be Wild, and Hey Lawdy Mama. But the song that has stuck with and remained so relevant to me over the years is Monster. I treasure the song for its power and beauty but at the same time, am so disappointed that although we've moved on 40 years, the lyrics could have easily been written today.
Perhaps what rings even more true today than the lyrics themselves, and seems eerily familiar, is John Kay's introduction to the song: "Well, while he's drying off back there, what it's really all about is that, despite the things that are wrong in our country there are too many good things worth saving to let the whole thing go down the drain. So, I think we should get together as much as we can and bring about change".
The more things change, the more things stay the same?
Monster
Words and music by John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, Nick St. Nicholas and Larry Byrom
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog
And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey
(Suicide)
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'
Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching
(America)
America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster
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MCA Corporation of America, INC
