About the Song
Released in 1968 as part of Steppenwolf’s debut album, Steppenwolf, “Born to Be Wild” quickly became the anthem of freedom and rebellion, associated with motorcycles, the counterculture movement, and the spirit of the open road. The song’s distinctive line, “heavy metal thunder,” became iconic as it was the first popular use of the phrase “heavy metal,” which later came to define a whole genre of hard rock music. The term was originally coined by writer William Burroughs in his 1961 novel The Soft Machine, where he described the character Uranian Willy as “the Heavy Metal Kid,” linking the phrase to the sense of addiction and intensity.
Cultural Impact and “Easy Rider”
“Born to Be Wild” gained monumental fame when it was featured in the 1969 film Easy Rider, a groundbreaking counterculture classic starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. The film, about two bikers traveling from Los Angeles to New Orleans, became synonymous with freedom and the rebellious spirit of the 1960s, and the song’s inclusion helped cement its place in the cultural zeitgeist. Interestingly, during the film’s production, this song was initially considered a temporary placeholder until director Hopper could secure Crosby, Stills & Nash for the soundtrack. Once it was clear that “Born to Be Wild”
Chart Success and Legacy
The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, only held back by “People Got to Be Free” by The Rascals. Its success propelled Steppenwolf to fame, even though earlier singles like “A Girl I Knew” and “Sookie Sookie” failed to chart. Thanks to its rebellious lyrics and high-energy performance, “Born to Be Wild” quickly became an anthem for the growing biker culture and a staple on FM underground radio stations. Fans of Steppenwolf became known as the “Wolfpack,” a testament to the song’s deep connection with listeners.
Today, “Born to Be Wild” is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time, a celebration of freedom, defiance, and the love of the open road. Its influence on music, particularly within the hard rock and metal genres, remains profound, and its place in pop culture is secured, continuing to be synonymous with the spirit of rebellion and adventure.
Lyrics
Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah, darlin’, go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
I like smoke and lightnin’
Heavy metal thunder
Racin’ with the wind
And the feelin’ that I’m under
Yeah, darlin’, go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
Like a true nature’s child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
We’re lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah, darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space
Like a true nature’s child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
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