Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf

Album: Steppenwolf The Second (1968)

Charted: 3

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Songfacts®:

In the late '60s, rock music was best enjoyed between two towering speakers hooked up to a hi-fidelity stereo sound system (this was long before earbuds or sleek little speakers). These systems, with their 10-inch woofers, turntables and equalizers, were expensive and took up a lot of space, but the juice was worth the squeeze.

With royalties from Steppenwolf's first album, lead singer John Kay bought one of these sweet sound systems. When they were working on their second album, bass player Rushton Moreve came up with a groove for a new song and inserted the line "I like my job, I like my baby" as a placeholder. Kay took the demo home to work on the lyrics. In a Songfacts interview with Kay, he explained what happened next:

"I popped the cassette into the player, and out of these rather large speakers came this track. And what popped into my head was, 'I like to dream... right between the sound machine.' The 'sound machine' being that stereo system. I wrote the lyrics and melody in 20 minutes, went and overdubbed the vocal, and then we did some more work on the track with instrument overdubs and the like, and 'Magic Carpet Ride' evolved from that."
A magic carpet shows up in the Arabian Nights tales from the 1700s as mystical, and very romantic, means of transport. It's a device often employed in books, movies and TV shows. Paul Revere & the Raiders were the first to use it in a rock song when they opened their song "Kicks" with the lines:

Girl, you thought you found the answer
On that magic carpet ride last night

That song is about drug abuse; Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" is an invitation to a journey where fantasy will set you free. The magic carpet returned to pop music in 1992 with the #1 hit "A Whole New World," the theme to the Disney movie Aladdin.
Released on their second album, "Magic Carpet Ride" was the second big hit for Steppenwolf; their first, "Born To Be Wild," was released a few months earlier on their debut album. The band was best known for these two hits, but they developed a tight-knit fanbase (the "Wolfpack") that devoured the album cuts and supported the band for decades. In the late '60s and into the '70s, FM radio stations with Freeform or Album Oriented Rock formats would often play the lesser-known Steppenwolf cuts, and sometimes, the whole albums.
This song first appeared in a 1968 movie called Candy by the French director Christian Marquand, starring Ewa Aulin, Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Ringo Starr and Charles Aznavour. It's an extremely strange movie, definitely of its time and kind of gives context to the song, intended or not. The movie was based on a popular counterculture novel.
John Kay of Steppenwolf teamed up with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five to do a 1988 rap-rock remake of this song. It was similar to the Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith mash-up of "Walk This Way," which was released in 1986.
"Magic Carpet Ride" shows up in a lot of movies and TV shows. Movies include:

For the Love of Money (2012)
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Team America: World Police (2004)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Sex and the City ("Sex and Another City" - 2000)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Coneheads (1993)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Casualties of War (1989)
Legal Eagles (1986)
Mask (1985)

TV:

My Name Is Earl ("Randy in Charge: Of Our Days and Our Nights" - 2007)
The Wire ("Hard Cases" - 2003) ... (writer: "Magic Carpet Ride")
Spin City ("Mustang Mikey" - 1999)
The Wonder Years ("Dance with Me" - 1988)
In 2004, "Magic Carpet Ride" was used in the "America Revolution" series of Chevy car commercials. In 2024, it featured in a Super Bowl commercial for Bud Light starring Sonny Valicenti, Peyton Manning and Post Malone where a genie makes wishes come true.

Comments: 57

Renee Emerson from ArizonaJim Morrison more than likely related heavily with this song. I definitely do!!!! Therapy. 101....
Big Bbc from Los AngelesI hate to burst everyone’s bubble about magic carpet ride being about drugs. Ha! It was not!!

In the early 80s I was acquainted with John Kay’s wife and himself. She had invited me and a friend of mine to a small venue intimate Steppenwolf concert. Just her, myself, and my friend sat at a small table centerstage... As we were talking before the concert began, I asked her what the song magic carpet ride was about. She said... “A lot of people think it was about drugs. It’s not!!....

.... It was about a really Bitchin quadraphonic stereo system that John had just set up in their living room.

In the middle of the room was a very large Persian rug (hence, Magic Carpet Ride, and Aladdin). John sat on the carpet in the middle of the room with the stereo cranked up, letting “The sound take him away“.... which inspired him to write the song “ Magic carpet ride“. Make any sense to y’all now? Ha!
Also, the “ Little girl“ in the song was his wife, who he called over to sit with him on the rug and experience the new Bitchin sound system!
Music is supposed to take you away. Right?... It takes you on a journey.

Funny how if you tell a lie long enough, It becomes the truth to most people. Kind of like that man-made global warming B.S. that most people have wound up buying into. Ha!

Well, that should clear up that misnomer! Just the facts Jack!

Maybe next time I’ll debunk the Beatles Lucy in the sky with diamonds song being about an acid trip. Which it was not! Ha!
Tammy Sampson from Ripley, Wv, UsaThe sounds at the end of the song sound like whale song...
Major from ArkansasTheze guyz were & STILL r the original BAD BOY band...
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 30, 1968, Steppenwolf performed "Magic Carpet Ride" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
At the time the song was at #12 on Billboard's Hot Top chart, four weeks later it would peak at #3* {for 1 week} and it spent sixteen weeks on the Top 100...
Original keyboardist Goldy McJohn passed away at the age of 72 on August 1st, 2017...
May he R.I.P.
Tony from San DiegoStop arguing! Just do like me and fire up a fatty and crank it the f--k up!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 17th 1969, Steppenwolf performed "It's Never Too Late" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
June 1st, 1969 was its last day on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had peaked at #51 {for 1 week} on May 18th and stayed on the chart for 5 weeks...
The song was their fourth charted record; their first three all reached the Top 10; "Born To Be Wild" {#2 for 3 weeks}, "Magic Carpet Ride" {#3}, and "Rock Me" {#10}...
Sadly, two band members have passed away; bassist Rushton Moreve in 1981 and drummer Jerry Edmonton in 1993...
May both R.I.P.
{See next post below}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 17th 1969, Steppenwolf performed a medley of "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
Ten months earlier on September 29th, 1968 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #86; and on November 24th, 1968 it peaked at #3 {for 1 week} and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
The week it was at #3, the #1 record was "Love Child" by Diana Ross & the Supremes and at #2 was "Hey Jude" by the Beatles...
Between 1968 and 1974 the Los Angeles-based quintet had thirteen Top 100 records; three made the Top 10, their other two Top 10 records were "Born To Be Wild" {#2 for 3 weeks in 1968} and "Rock Me" {#10 for 1 week in 1969}...
Lead singer John Kay, born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, will celebrate his 71st birthday come next April 12th {2015}.
Randy from West Milton, OhI, being a member of LXA, John Kay visited our Chapter at Ohio State in 1972. The LXA headquaters only want to dissociate themselves from the drugs, sex, etc. He was there at our initiation time, and never debunked the association between the song and the ritual.
Elmer H from Westville, OkYeah, back in 1968 I bought the single "Magic Carpet Ride" and the album it came from, "Steppenwolf, The Second." In 1968, it was a wild ride in the music world! There was psychedelic rock, folk rock, hard rock, pop-rock, acid rock, R&B, and more. Steppenwolf, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Iron Butterfly, The Beatles and others. were pushing into new areas of rock music. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll were the reality of young America in many areas. The new music reflected the counter-culture changes of the hippie culture, the drug scene, and the avant-garde rock song lyricists. In 1968, Steppenwolf & John Kay were at the forefront of the new rock music scene. I remember it first-hand. It was my generation. John Kay wrote many cutting-edge songs about drugs and the consequences of drug abuse, along with his biting social commentaries (Monster, Power Play, Move Over, Don't Step On the Grass, Sam!, etc.). I've read he comments of others on this site who believe this song is about or is related to a college fraternity. Rubbish! Knowing Steppenwolf's history, influences, discography, and commentaries about their song-writing process & song influences, I tend to give the "frat" influence no validity. If you want to find out more about "Magic Carpet Ride" and the meaning of the song, research further with valid sources. John Kay & Steppenwolf still perform in 2013 and you should contact them on their Internet website at www.steppenwolf.com to get "all the funky details" about this fantastic song. Rock on, Steppenwolf!
Esskayess from Dallas, TxIf it's a drug song, what do the loss of Aladdin's lamp and finding a candle have to do with it?
Bear from Bowling Green, KyThis song is about a drug trip. Everyone knows anyone who "turned on, tuned in, and dropped out" in the 60's wouldn't join a frat! However; since I became aware that some frat boys were using this song it makes it difficult to listen to without thinking of a bunch of spoiled drunk rich kids!
Steve from Whittier, CaIf you have the single version, you not only have the typically shorter but also a rerecording, as became more typical [and one thinks this a more MODERN phenonemon.] Dunhill ABC Paramount, the label [Mamas & Papas, Three Dog Night, Richard Harris, Grass Roots, Barry McGuire and others were in that stable], had a habit of doing different takes [Motown/Rare Earth/Tamla was antoher]. The open vocal fades up in the open in the LP, like in Rare Earth's [Rare Earth rcords] 1970 "I Know". The singing is different too. In addition to the mix and the usual difference in length.
Betty from Dayton, Oh"wont you come with me lil girl".....love it!
Rikk from Nashville, TajikistanThe version used in the movie "Go" was done by Philip Steir according to http://www.discogs.com/Various-Go-Music-From-The-Motion-Picture/release/263408 you can also sample this version on Amazon.com
Danielle from Tulsa, OkThe whole fraternity idea is absolutly ignorant, the song was not written for a bunch of panty raiding, daddy's boys IT'S ABOUT DRUGS. For Being college students they dont know s--t!!!!!!!!!
Brian from Birmingham, AlI am an LCA alumni and can put my two cents in to the myth. I find it hard to believe the band knew about or investigated the rituals of LCA. There is not a chapter in the world that would let a foreigner discover the secret rituals of the fraternity; however, it is pretty impressive how some of the song's lyrics describe a major event that happens in the "hell week" ritual. I think it is just pure coincidence that the artist expressed his lyrics in the way that he did, and the fraternity probably adopted it as a meaningful way of pumping up its members. I will tell you that this song is listened to as if it were written for LCA. When anyone from LCA hears this song they know what it means and will probably start jumping up and down in a frenzy on the first played note :>P Sorry, I cannot go into any further detail than that.
Ashley from Moravia, NyLOVE this song! i had it on CD...and i would jam to it everyday!
Chomper from Franjkin County, PaFor Your Information , "Magic Carpet Ride" is a slang word for the halluciation caused by the drugs ( barbituates , marijuana , pcp , poppers , and heroin )on the mind and body . .. It has nothing to do with SEX. ..Back when the song came out ( in the mid - late 60s ), alot of Hippies and Flower Children were experiencing with illegal drugs . .. "Magic Carpet Ride" was a term for the effect caused by the drugs !!!
Karen from Manchester, NhTo me, it's the effect of really getting into a song, listening to it, letting the song take your mind places. An excellent song works better than any drug, if you have a modicum of imagination. ("On a cloud of sound" "let the sound take you away") Geesh...why does everything have to be about either drugs or sex?
Chomper from Franjkin County, PaWhen the singer says the words , "You don't know what we can find ; So won't you come with me little girl , on a magic capet ride . You don't know what we can see ; Why don't you tell your dream to me , fantasy will set you free " , he's saying to the girl that she won't know what she's missing until she tries the drugs and experience the effects for herself .
Chomper from Franjkin County, PaLet me first explain that the lyrics have nothing whatsoever to do with sex ; but have to do with the effects of a illegal drugs , like Marajuana ( canabis ) and Amphetamines ( drugs to causes hallucinations ). This song is basically a Psychadelic rock song about the effects of the drugs . The word "Magic carpet Ride" relates to what the drug user feels when he or she is on these illegal drugs : flying as high as a kite ; or more likely , a carpet ride while being stoned .
Tony from Connellsville, Pathe song isnt about sex and CARPET isnt referring to pubic hair on a vagina its referring to riding on a floating carpet through the air geez u people
Oldpink from New Castle, InMy brother is a LXA member, and he claimed this was about the initiation ritual, but he could have been misled, just as the other bloke, who pointed out all the idiots who synchronize "Dark Side of the Moon" with "The Wizard of Oz."
Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesEnlighten us, won't you, on the Lambda Chi symbolism? Otherwise, I'm liable to think that it's retconned and would be an experience somewhat like playing Dark Side of the Moon behind The Wizard of Oz... an interesting syncretism, but not what the music was originally created for.
Dean from Custer, SdSome of the lyrics in Magic Carpet Ride definately have a Lambda Chi connection. It would be a one in a billion coinkydink to suggest otherwise. It comes as no surprise that the Lambda Chi website would attempt to debunk the facts and by their attempt confirms the overwhelming probability of a LXA connection. Dean EZ609
Bill from Atlanta, GaI'm not sure if this song is about lambda chi, but after seeing the original music video, if it's not, there certainly are some interesting coincidinces. Either way, it's fun for us to just ignorantly believe it is and get crazy and out of control when we hear it, that's what frat guys are supposed to do... right?
Ray from Bonneville Salt Flats, UtThis song is NOT about Lambda Chi. Neither John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in East Germany) nor Rushton Moreve were fraternity members.

Lambda Chi's website has a page devoted to debunking of that myth. ( http://www.crossandcrescent.com/2006/07/carpet-ride-unraveled/ )

John Kay swears that Moreve wrote the music, but with very minimal lyrics. He (Kay) then took the demo tape and listened to it on his new "hi-fi" system as the SongFacts state. He then wrote the lyrics (in about 20 minutes) about a ride on the magic carpet of the music: "Let the Sound Take You Away."

There may have been several ways of interpreting the lyrics, but the original concept was based on the magic of music.
P.a. from Paris, FranceTo precise Brandon's comment, first song you can hear when Austin Powers travels back to the sixties and his psychedelic mini skids to a stop in the middle of his London pad (means something right?), but then his eyes meet Heather Graham's at the exact second it switches to the Guess Who's American, aren't these just perfect song choices?
Josiah from Pittsburgk, KsLmao... what a dumb ass. Obviously Bubba Zanetti is not a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, or he would know that it has everything to do with our fraternity. The song is a compilation of everything important to John Kay... Pussy, Drugs, and his fraternity. Not necessarily in that order. But, I can personally attest as a member of LCA that it is definitely about us.

LXZ #646
John from Chicago, IlThis song is definitely written by/about Lambda Chi Alpha. Anyone who is educated in LXA or is a brother will know exactly what I am talking about. If you watch the original music video from the 60's it makes it blatantly obvious.

Oh, and btw the facts on here are from the LXA national newsletter (who wiped their records from being the fraternity because they f--ked up big time and were deactivated).

There is rumors also of a final verse that was edited out. The (rather blank) "jam session" is where the supposed verse was originally at. The rumor is that LXA Nationals threatened to sue because it was too specific in describing its rituals
Bubba Zanetti from Austin, TxI had heard that this song was written by a couple of Lambda Chi's, and that the lyrics had all sorts of cryptic references to their initiation ceremony. The frat brothers at my college sure seemed to think so, and where always saying stuff like "Whoa man, if you only knew what they were REALLY referring to!" They would always get all rowdy and dance to it like it was their anthem. Turns out it's got nothing to do with Lambda Chi, and those idiots had no clue what they were talking about. Tools.
Darrell from EugeneIn Brad Barkley's 2003 novel "Alison's Automotive Repair Manual", which is one of my favorites, there is a mention of "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppinwolf on Page 180 in a section in which the narrator describes Alison driving her dilapidated silver 1976 Corvette (not a particularly valuable car) that she tries in vain to fix up by night with the T-tops off, the radio playing "Magic Carpet Ride" and the Corvette having no license plates and basically no exhaust system.
Damion from Kingston, Nyhey i know there was a female singer that did a cover of this song anyone know who it was?
Damon from Beverly Hills, CaThe Big Lebowski, a J, and a white russian are a good trio with this song
Brandon from Peoria, IlThis song was used in Austin Powers 2 when he's dancing in his pad and meets Felicity Shagwell.
Lambda Chi Alpha from Miami, FlThis song is completly about an Acid trip and bringing a girl along on it. Nothing more.
Jim from New York, NyIsnt the song about eatin' p***y. "Magic CARPET ride", come on! It cant be more obvious! "Tell your dreams to me, fantasy will set you free". He wants to (bleep) a chick. And maybe while on acid.....
Kim from Orlando, FlCheck out the video for the song!!! That answers more questions about what they were thinking about when the song was written and really shows what was happening in the late '60's!!! One place you can see this video is on "Hard Rock & Hard Times" available thru their website!!! When I saw it, looked like a great acid trip to me!!!
Hugh from Dunstable, EnglandAs far as I can recall, the song was written for Candy. Given the nature of the movie, and it's era, it would suggest that feet were well and truly off the ground.
Unknown from New York, NyAre you sure there are no drug relations in this song? It appears like the whole song is based on the effects of drugs.
Kevin from New York, NyThis song was also covered by a group called Creative Source(Don Wyatt, Barbara Lewis, Steve Flanagan, Celeste Rose, Barbara Berryman) in 1973, their version is very funky.
Dan from Lee, NhThere are so many stereo types about drugs and of course some people may compare a "Magic Carpet Ride" to an acid trip or something, but I don't think this is SPECIFICALLY about drugs. I think it's about trying something new and trying to convince someone that it's fun.
David from Pepperell, MaThis is the only song in the movie "Team America: World Police" that wasn't written by Trey Parker.
Leya Qwest from Anchorage, AkThis fab psychedelic song is featured in the mega-hit movie "Apollo 13." When Kevin Bacon gets news over the phone from NASA that he's gonna be one of the spaceship's crew members, he yells "WHAA-OOOOO!" as the song is being played on the radio or tape machine at home in the background. In the scene, he's just been interrupted by the call during sex in the shower with a hot playmate. No doubt that the music was chosen by the film's director Ron Howard to mark the character of the young and hip astronaut Jack Swigert portrayed by Bacon and to help represent a little feeling of swingin' 1970 when the real-life drama occured. BADDA BING!!!
Moose from Scocha, Nyi was told this song is about drugs hence the aladins lamp "wink wink" and all he could find was a candle ":o" shocking
Amit from Fair Lawn, NjCovered by Bedlam. The cover version is played in Reservoir Dogs.
Jacquie from Somewhere, CanadaIt sounds like hes trying to pick up a girl (Underaged) "Come withme little girl" ..and get her high
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThe version by Fatboy Slim was released under the alias The Mighty Dub Katz, and is not strictly a cover of the Steppenwolf tack, although it is loosely based around it.
Mariah from Miami, FlBrett... "Uh"... That "magical trip" is called acid my friend...
Cody from New York City, NyI think the remix for the film "Go" was done by Fatboy Slim
Taal from Brisbane, Australiathe remix in "go" (i think by crystal method) totally butchered this song
Jason from Wylie, Txit was also used in star trek:first contact
Jason from Wylie, Txa techno remix of this song was made not to long ago it was featured in the movie go i believe another version was used in the movie coneheads
Jonny from Leicster , EnglandThis was in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Brett from Edmonton, CanadaI always think of this as being about a sort of "Captain Jack" character (see the Billy Joel song) who takes you away on a magical, uh, trip.
Axel from Toms River, NjThe SINGLE version is a completly DIFFERENT track than the stereo lp version. The 45 is much more dense sounding, yet sounds muffled a bit.. I actually like the single better.. Dick Bartley has a copy of it on one of his CD's..out of print I think.

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