What is 60s band Steppenwolf song "Monster" about?

Question

Words and music by John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, Nick St. Nicholas and Larry Byrom

(Monster)
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

Thanks for all answers. A lot of us have older family members who turned us on to Steppenwolf, and
some of them taped the albums on reel-to-reel. Bro or sis borrowed them from friends older than themselves. I like to call it "spreading the disease", where the virus serves an escape route or exit sign from The Present Tense.

Thanks for all answers. A lot of us have older family members who turned us on to Steppenwolf, and
some of them taped the albums on reel-to-reel. Bro or sis borrowed them from friends older than themselves. I like to call it "spreading the disease", where the virus serves an escape route or exit from The Present Tense.

It was more about other things than Vietnam, I think. "Cities have turned into jungles", could be a reference to
South Indonesia, but it depended on
where you lived. Now nobody's
immune from crime or violence.

to the "un-asked" question, is there hazing on these boards? There most
certainly is. Most of that hazing, but not all is done by people who use any kind of vehicle, device, or method to make your or I feel guilty or stupid. When they themselves ever have anything to say that is fruitful, they love to attack ideas or people who don't believe what their heros or role models believe. Don't let people belittle or downgrade you for bucking the system, then you have won a battle most aren't even aware is going on.

to the "un-asked" question, is there hazing on these boards? There most
certainly is. Most of that hazing, but not all, is done by people who use any kind of vehicle, device, or method to make your or I feel guilty or stupid. When they themselves ever have anything to say that is fruitful, they love to attack ideas or people who don't believe what their heros or role models believe. Don't let people belittle or downgrade you for bucking the system, then you have won a battle most aren't even aware is going on.

to the "un-asked" question, is there hazing on these boards? There most
certainly is. Most of that hazing, but not all, is done by people who use any kind of vehicle, device, or method to make your or I feel guilty or stupid. When they themselves never have anything to say that is fruitful, they love to attack ideas or people who don't believe what their heros or role models believe. Don't let people belittle or downgrade you for bucking the system, then you have won a battle most aren't even aware is going on.

Answer 1

It was an anti-war song from the Vietnam era. From the 1970 album of the same name

Answer 2

Everywhere I go I keep seeing the same type of responses to many really good questions. There seems to be some sort of hazing effect going in America these days. I am not really sure why, but the average person that answers these questions has just about the same answer. Things like it was different in the 1970's, or the country is much better off today then it was then. When in all actuality it really isnt any better today than, then. The monster is still there, only now his face has changed slightly to better hide itself among us. If we just sit idley assuming that the government is doing what is best for us you are living an illusion. The government has, and alway will do what is best for the government first. I dont hate America, on the contrary I love my country with all my heart but I dont trust Uncle Sam one little bit. The problems are still here and until the people of America stand up with one voice and cry to their leaders that enough is enough. The situation will never change. If you dont know what I am talking about, you never will. You have been brainwashed by the system into thinking that everything is hunky dorry.

Answer 3

Yeah, it's from another era when the word "Relivant" played a part in a songs popularity whereas today any song considered "Topical" or "political" is religated to a few independant stations for fear of upsetting the "Armchair Patriots"
But perhaps that is as it should be - with lyrics written for those with "eyes to see" and "ears to hear" while the rest think it to be just another dum-de-dum song.
Then again the movement is different from the 60's. Back then the effort was to turn people on to what's happening and politicize the people so that they might take action some time in the future. Today, people are far more aware of what's going on and are acting in small to large ways to change things for the better - so maybe people need a little dum-de-dum music to relax with after signing petitions, protesting, writing congresspeople, attending city hall meetings etc.
Keep the faith!

Answer 4

It was much more than an anti-war song. Obviously John Kay knew his History, and couldn't reconcile the Declaration of Indpendence with what he saw going on around him. It was more than Vietnam, much more than that. If you think it was just about war, please explain

"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"

Answer 5

The first answer pretty much covers it...you would have to have lived thru/grown up in that era to understand what was going on then....everybody under 25 hated most everybody over 25 and if you were in either group you had certain things you must believe in...it was a weird time...real weird...

Answer 6

Hey thanks man I forgot I had that album. Its a cool tone, we use to listen to it setting outside under the stars wondering how we would get somewhere tomorrow then soon it would all go away and we would just sleep. Anyway what was your question?

Answer 7

You need to listen to the song again.

Answer 8

Born to be Wild.

Answer 9

I don't know. I never read the lyrics.

In other words, you answered your own question.