Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf

This song defined a genre.

“Born to Be Wild” from Steppenwolf's 1968 debut album, is a song of freedom and rebellion. It helped define a generation, especially during the Vietnam War.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of hitting the open road to embrace adventure and live life to the fullest. The song is linked to the 1960s counterculture and motorcycle lifestyle. This is mainly due to the 1969 film Easy Rider, which starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson.

"The inclusion of that song, as well as 'The Pusher,' in Easy Rider ensured that our music was introduced to other parts of the world, thanks to the film's success," said Steppenwolf frontman John Kay.

Dennis McCrohan, later known as Mars Bonfire, wrote "Born to Be Wild." He first drew inspiration from a movie poster, stating, "I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard one day and saw a poster in a window saying ‘Born to Ride,’ with a picture of a motorcycle erupting out of the earth like a volcano, surrounded by fire."

"Around this time, I had just purchased my first car, a little secondhand Ford Falcon. So, all this came together lyrically: the idea of the motorcycle emerging, along with the freedom and joy I felt from having my first car and being able to drive myself around whenever I wanted."

Lyrically:

"Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way"

The opening lyrics convey a tone of carefree adventure and rebellion. The imagery of getting a motor running—any type of motor—and heading out on the highway, regardless of direction, emphasizes freedom and discovery.

"Yeah, darlin', go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space"

The lyrics "Yeah, darlin', go make it happen" serve as a motivating call to pursue dreams. Additionally, "Take the world in a love embrace" suggests an open-hearted approach to all experiences. The metaphor "firing all of your guns at once" signifies fully committing, while "explode into space" captures a sense of growth.

The line "I like smoke and lightnin'" captures adventure. Smoke means intensity, and lightning means power. Or it could simply be lighting up a cigarette while operating the running motor.

The role of the periodic table

One of the most memorable lines in the song, "heavy metal thunder," stems from Bonfire's recollection of the periodic table of elements during a rainstorm in the San Bernardino mountains.

“The sky was dark and lightning struck. I remembered studying the periodic table of elements in school, and there was a category for heavy metals. The phrase ‘heavy metal thunder’ popped into my head,” said Bonfire. “I had no idea how important those words would soon become.”

The term 'heavy metal' as a music genre comes from the lyrics in 'Born to Be Wild.' They later influenced bands like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.

"Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die"

"Like a true nature's child" suggests a deep bond with the world. It reflects someone who embodies effortless flow. The line "We were born, born to be wild" reinforces the idea of a carefree, adventurous lifestyle. "We can climb so high" embraces the idea of having limitless potential. While, the declaration "I never wanna die" captures a desire to live every moment to its fullest.

"Born to be wild
Born to be wild"

The repetition of "Born to be wild" as the final set of lyrics is a constant reminder to live without constraints.

"Every generation thinks they're born to be wild," said Kay, "and they can identify with that song as their anthem.