♫ Monster ♫

Posted on by under music, Political commentary, Social commentary

I have a policy for my music posts … I do take requests, and if I like the song, I’ll play it, if I don’t, I just let the request fade into oblivion.  However, there are a few exceptions.  A) If the requester is a long-time reader and old friend, B) if I find some value in the song, and C) if it doesn’t make my head hurt.

Yesterday (Thursday), in a comment on my post titled No Longer The Country We Think We Are, Roger Jacob, one of the first people to stumble across this blog back in 2015 and a dear friend, said that “Next song you put up Jill just has to be ‘Monster’ by Steppenwolf.”

I listened to the song, which I had never heard before — no surprise there, as Steppenwolf is not ordinarily on my list of favourites.  But, when I studied the lyrics, what I found was that while the lyrics were written in 1969 about the Vietnam War, loss of justice, and other issues, they are just as relevant today.

So, without further ado, I give you Steppenwolf!

Monster
Steppenwolf

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
But 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 till the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end

While we bullied, stole and bought 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
But 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 was over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But its protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won’t pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
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 the noose
And it just sits there watchin’

The 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 world’s 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 the noose
And it just sits there watchin’

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

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

America…America…America…America…

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jerry Edmonton / John Kay
Monster lyrics © BMG Rights Management

42 thoughts on “♫ Monster ♫”

  1. How did I miss this post, Jill? One of my favorite protest songs of the 60s. Thanks for sending me the link. There is one line in the song I got wrong, and I like my version way way better than the original:
    While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
    We began the slaughter of the red man
    should definitely read
    Wading in the slaughter of the red man

    But double thanks, because after the video played, one of the suggested viewing sites was a 40 minute documentary of Eric Burdon, 2020, that I had never see, some nice reminiscences of his life and career with commentators like Sting and Patti Smith adding in how he and his music effected their own careers. Sending you kisses for this xmas
    present a few weeks early.
    Luv you really lots.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I’m pretty sure Steppenwolf was required reading in many Canadian school in those days, and the band took the name for a reason. They had something to say, and were not afraid to say it, just like Hesse. I myself thought the book was a bit of a slog, but Steppenwolf the band was required listening for this old hippie. Yes, Monster got Top 40 airplay, at least in Canada, but it was much more popular on the then underground FM radio.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. JilL, Roger, very pertinent lyrics. It reveals a people who continuously fall short of our ideals. Yet, we do lerch ahead from time to time.

    If you are game for one of my favorite Styx songs about a tattered America, using metaphors, listen to “Suite Madame Blue.” It is more ballad, but does have a rock-n-roll flare at times. Dennis De Young has one of the best voices and does it justice. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Thanks for the reference Jill .👍
    Not the most cheerful or comfortable of songs but when you bump into (like I did) some ‘WP suggested’ blogger going on at great length about how God sent Trump then I realise how bad things are across the pond and that’s why I thought it apt.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Don’t remember “Monster”, but, I like it. Fitting lyrics for today. A recent trump rally in Michigan played CCR’s “Fortunate Son” as trump walked off AIr Force One. That is a protest song which I well remember – it is about draft dodgers during the Vietnam War.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I had never heard this song, either, and after one hearing I don’t like the music especially, but the text is not bad as a capsule history of the USA.
    Apart from this particular song, I have never liked the group Steppenwolf, for one thing because they took their name from a novel they had apparently never read or at least didn’t understand. Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf is about the mid-life crisis of a fifty-year-old German/Swiss writer, and Hesse himself never understood why younger people would want to read it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Like you, I’m not crazy about the music and was never particularly fond of Steppenwolf. I did NOT know that they took their name from the Hermann Hesse novel, though had I thought about it I might have realized. So, I’ve learned something new from you today. Thanks, Don!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I haven’t heard this song before, or at least I never listened to the words, maybe the melody would be familiar. But how appropriate and relative it is now! Just reading the words literally gave me chills. Maybe someone should suggest that “Monster” become the new trump rally theme…. sorry, Steppenwolf. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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