Magic Carpet Ride

Steppenwolf

About Magic Carpet Ride

"Magic Carpet Ride" is a rock song written by John Kay and Rushton Moreve from the Canadian-American hard rock band Steppenwolf. The song was initially released in 1968 on the album The Second. It was the lead single from that album, peaking at number three in the US, and staying in the charts for 16 weeks, longer than any other Steppenwolf song. The 45 version is not only an edit of the album version but contains a different vocal take on the first verse. The song appears in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact when Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) takes off on his first warp flight in the Phoenix. The song is also featured in one within the series of 1980-90s Miller Genuine Draft Commercials where opening the beer turns a hot day into a snowy one. 


Year:
1998
104 

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I like to dream, yes, yes
Right between the sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near
To the stars away from here

Well, you don't know what
We can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride

Well, you don't know what
We can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes now
Look inside now
Let the sound
Take you away

Last night I hold Aladdin's lamp
So I wished that I could stay
Before the thing could answer me
Well, someone came and took the lamp away

I looked
Around
A lousy candle's all I found

Well, you don't know what
We can find
Why don't you come with me little girl
On a magic carpet ride

Well, you don't know what
We can see
Why don't you tell your dreams to me
Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes now
Look inside now
Let the sound
Take you away

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Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf is a North Americanrock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1968 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The Sparrows, formed by John Kay in the early 60s, of which only Moreve was not a member. more »

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Written by: JOHN KAY, RUSHTON JOHN MOREVE

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Magic Carpet Ride" is from the American-Canadian band, Steppenwolf. The band formed in 1967 in Los Angeles with John Kay as the lead vocalist.
Album Release
The song was released in 1968 as a part of their second studio album, "The Second".
Chart Performance
It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it one of Steppenwolf's biggest hits.
Song Composition
John Kay, along with bassist Rushton Moreve, were credited with composing "Magic Carpet Ride".
Lyrics Aspect
The song features abstract and fantasy-centered lyrics, imitating a psychedelic 'trip'. This was representative of the time period's interest in psychedelic experiences.
Music Style
It is renowned for its distinctive, hard-driving rock sound combined with elements of blues and psychedelic music.
Instrumentation
The song features a keyboard intro, considered innovative at the time as the use of keyboards was not a major trend in rock music.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered "Magic Carpet Ride", including Grand Funk Railroad and hip-hop artist Ice-T.
Media Features
The song has been used in popular media a number of times, including movies like Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and TV shows like That '70s Show.
John Kay's Reflection
According to John Kay, the lyrics for the song were improvised. He initially laid down the vocals as a reference for the other band members, planning to write 'proper' lyrics later, but they liked the raw spontaneity of the improvised version and decided to keep it.
Record Label
The song was released via ABC Dunhill Records who are known for dealing with various successful artists in the late 1960’s and early 1970s.
Recording Process
The song stands out for its layered recording process. It uses a 16-track recording system which was quite sophisticated for its time.
Popularity
The song remains one of Steppenwolf's most popular songs and is frequently played on classic rock radio stations.
Legacy
In 2018, Magic Carpet Ride was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, reflecting its lasting impact in music history.

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    Magic Carpet Ride

    11.5M
    92,253     2,803

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

    Billboard #3


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