journey lyrics wheel in the sky

"Wheel In The Sky" lyrics

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Wheel in the Sky

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Lyrics submitted by Phlick_2002

Wheel In The Sky Lyrics as written by Neal Joseph Schon Diane T. Valory

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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this song is about being lost on earth

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There are many spiritual, astrological and astronomical "wheels" in different cultures and religions...but I don't think the "wheel in the sky" in this song is a reference to any specific one of them. The songwriter was likely just going after the poetic imagery of a lone person, caught up in a vast wheel of time/heavens/cosmos. They were trying to express the feeling of having events in your life determined by forces beyond your control.

Religious?!! Really? Wow - to me it's about a guy who is on the road who is hoping his girl is still waiting for him - he's been away for a while hence "winter is her again...." When out touring all days blend into one another you lose track of time - you just count the seasons - wheel in the sky references time then the line " I don't know where I'll be tomorrow" again touring one city to the next they all look the same he just wants it to be over but they keep adding shows " don't think I'm ever gonna make it home again" Just my interpretation

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@Nfl305 The Wheel in tje sky is the zodiac. Reflection of time passing through the houses.

@Nfl305 so then it’s a companion song to Highway To Hell?

@Nfl305 What's the definition of 'religious'?

I think he's on some sort of journey. Probably with wheels, underneath a sky.

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@allidaps that’s better than underneath the wheels.

wheel in the sky obviously means the sun/earth, just keeps on turning.. as the world goes by.

I didn't really take this as traveling. I think it implies something more deep than that. It implies by winter that its the time of year he left (or she left) and winter is symbolic for cold..or it is literally. "Sent a letter on a long summer day Made of silver, not of clay " I don't get that part very much.. Stranded in sleet and rain..emotional turmoil, missing that person. Its just about him not being able to come home, and he hopes she feels the same way, but the wheel in the sky keeps turning-time passes by, and feelings fade w/ time.

Wheel in the sky for me is a song obviously written about being on the road all the time so the wheel in the sky keeps on turning. But i take it as more. I think it means that no matter what life throws at you the world goes on the next day. The night is always darkest before the dawn and i think that is the message trying to be conveyed by this song.

I lost my younger brother to cancer a while back. He was a Harley rider. He died way too young. (39) He was sick over a year. He had us play this song at his funeral. Life goes on but he was tired of fighting the cancer. He couldn't do normal things (haven't been home in a year or more). Asked his Maker for help (Sent a letter on a long summer's day. Silver for a prayer not clay) The dusty road was his pain. His body quit him he was ready to die(I've been trying to make it home Got to make it before too long I can't take this very much longer) I'm stranded in the sleet and rain) He gave up on getting cured, saw the end (The mornin' sun is risin' It's kissing the day). He did't know where he was going ( don't know where I'll be tomorrow). We saw a deep meaning in this song. It gives me comfort when I hear it. I had "Wheel in The Sky " engraved on his tombstone above an engraving of his Harley.

Ceiling fan.... I think not.

Great post! Sounds like you had an awesome brother. He is with the lord now. The sun has risen and kissed the day! I lost my older brother in a fire many years ago and still feel his strong spirit and guidance when I need it.

@jan1958 thank you for sharing the story of your brother's life and death, what a beautiful and tragic interpretation of this song. I hope you find peace.

I agree with most of the posts. It's about life on the road. Constantly touring and getting sick of it and wanting to just be home

Hmm, not sure why so many want to see a religious reference. Sure, it's easy to imagine an allusion to Ezekiel's wheel, but there's nothing else in the lyrics to support that - no hope, no failth, no love, no future, no help from God...nothing (and no angels, chariot or wheels).

What there is, is a really good description of endless days far away from home with only forlorn despair and little hope for return. The Wheel In The Sky is the endless passage of time,,,sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, day after day time keeps on moving, and the passage of one's life never seems to get you closer to home. He's probably still out there, wondering if he will ever get home.

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The Journey - Wheel in the Sky Lyrics

Artist: The Journey

Album: Rockline - Best of 70's, Vol. 5

Winter is here again oh lord, Haven't been home in a year or more I hope she holds on a little longer Sent a letter on a long summer day Made of silver, not of clay I've been runnin' down this dusty road Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin' I don't know where I'll be tomorrow Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin' I've been trying to make it home Got to make it before too long I can't take this very much longer I'm stranded in the sleet and rain Don't think I'm ever gonna make it home again The mornin' sun is risin' It's kissin the day Oh the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin' I don't' know where I'll be tomorrow Ooo the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'

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Wheel In The Sky by Journey

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• According to the liner notes of Journey's Time3 compilation, this started out as a poem called "Wheels In My Mind" by Diane Valory, the wife of Journey bassist Ross Valory. Robert Fleischman, the band's first vocalist, wrote new lyrics, and guitarist Neal Schon wrote the melody on acoustic guitar in the back seat of a station wagon while the band was driving between shows. It's one of the more philosophical Journey songs, telling the story of man trying desperately to return to his home. The verse lyrics are rather opaque, but the chorus offers an accessible metaphor for how life goes on no matter our personal struggles.
• This was the first Journey single with new lead vocalist Steve Perry, and not coincidentally, also their first single to chart. The group released three album before Perry came on board. They sold modestly, but the group was not a singles band - they had more of a progressive rock sound with the vocals and lyrics secondary to the music. Perry brought them concise songs with big hooks, but he also delivered a signature vocal sound, first heard on "Wheel In The Sky." The song reached just #57 US, but this was long before Journey was established on pop radio. The next two Infinity singles, " Anytime " and the Perry co-write " Lights ," also reached the lower half of the Hot 100. The group built on this success to become stadium rock superstars in the '80s.
• This is one of Journey's most popular live songs, played at nearly every show in every iteration of the band (Steve Perry left in 1999).
• More songs from Journey
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Comments: 45

• George from Bc Helivon from Earth: possibly that chariot/wheels in Ezekiel was how an illiterate farmer described a UFO he saw.
• Butch from Tx I've enjoyed reading these comments. They are all very different and impassioned. As for me, the song simply made me think of a touring band. "I hope she holds on a little longer." The Wheel In The Sky was just a metaphor for the Sun going around, or days passing by, or the great mystery of life continuing. A song about long stretches on the road, similar to Iron Maiden's 'Wasted Years'.
• Paulie from Manchester Uk For me its about a soldier who's trying to make it home. He doesn't know where he'll be tomorrow and he's unsure of if he'll be here tomorrow. Listening to this song gives me insane amounts of gratitude for soldiers in Ukraine right now fighting for their freedom. God bless you all for your sacrifice
• Helicon from Earth A wheel in the sky is how angels were described in Ezekiel in the Bible
• George Pope from Vancouver - Canada Upin first hearing this, I thought the wheel; in the sky was a poetic way of referring to the sun, as an inexorable spinning wheels -- the days turning, turning, & I don't know what tomorrow will bring. Catchy tune, as for so much of what Journey has done! Always good to randomly hear on store audio. Not sure if the song is lamentful or joyous. Thoughts?
• Anonymous The 4 horses they're riding on? And we're sky In what days are we living in dusty road We don't know we're we be tomorrow It's in the bible 7 seals, 4 horsemen, wheels in the sky The return he's talking about god
• Bob Ross Is The Best from Somewhere They are talking about the sun.
• James T from Columbus Oh Great song! Will in the sky is definitely a ferris wheel and he's a Carney who travels never knows where he's going to be next.
• Astrologer from Ny Its referring to Astrology. Clearly ;)
• Badsweetcrazy from Los Angeles California One of many great songs by one of rocks greatest bands of all time and still rocking after all these years as bands Fall apart and go under and don't exist anymore this band still exists because of one reason the leadership of the great Neal Schon and the songwriting of the great Jonathan Cain. Two great musicians and band members who sacrifice for the good of the band and ignore the petty little things that Fame and greatness bring with it that breaks up bands once they hit the top plateau of rock greatness, I don't know what you call it but they don't let it bother them and some of the younger bands need to follow there leadership and the way they handle the on stage and off stage and business part of being a great rock band.
• Mauricio from Brazil I heard she wrote the poem after she heard of the accident that killed some people of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was a plane crash, thus the image "wheel in the sky keeps on turning..."
• Anonymous from Atlanta Ga Wheel in the sky is the reality of the Mother plane from the teaching of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad SUPREME BEING GOD in person Master Fard Muhammad
• Alex from Collinsville, Illinois I love this song.
• Tyler Upp from Las Vegas, Vegas Great song
• Brian from Taos Nm My song in Iraq(09) Thoughts of life, death, and my girl back home.....Truly a bitter sweet song.
• Charlie from Kentucky The "wheel in the sky" is a reference to time and our existence. and that it keeps on turning refers to how insignificant we truely are to the infinite universe and time....less then a spec of dust.
• Ken from Philadelphia, Pa Come on. It's not about UFOs or Ferris wheels. It's about fate... or God, if you believe He controls your fate. Of course, in this case the narrator would appear to blaming fate instead of taking control of his own destiny.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On October 28th 1977, Journey appeared in concert at Bill Graham's Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California... It marked Steve Perry's first concert appearance as the lead singer of the West Coast-Bay Area group... Just over five months later on April 2nd, 1978 the group's first charted record, "Wheel in the Sky", would enter Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89, five weeks later on May 7th it peaked at #57 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 8 weeks... Between 1978 and 1985 the group had twenty seven Top 100 records; six made the Top 10 with "Open Arms"* being their biggest hit, it peaked at #2 for six weeks on February 21st, 1982... * The first three weeks that "Open Arms" was at #2, the #1 record was "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band and for the last three weeks it was "I Love Rock ‘N Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts that was in the top spot.
• Jared from Newport Ri I used to work for Rockwell amusement and was led to believe one of the band members worked for them and the song was about working on the feris wheel and how when you work for a carnival you need never know where your going next hence wheel in the sky keeps on turning don't know where I'll be tomorrow it was probably a lie but it made sense at the time!!
• Evan White from North Carolina,usa This song has always confused me...
• Willie from Scottsdale, Az As much as I hate to admit liking a Journey song...this kicks butt!
• Sandra from Gardnerville, Nv Let me get this straight...I have some choices...UFOs, Greek Mythology, Rock Anthem, Ferris Wheel, mispelled words, et al...FYI..."et al" means "and more." I just like the song...
• Gloria from Albemarle, Nc The poem that Ross Valory's then wife, Diane, wrote had the line "The wheels in my MIND keep on turning", but the band changed it when they used her poem as a basis to write their song. They simply thought it flowed better that way. Great song, even after 30 years.
• Myles from Carl Junction, Virgin Islands (u.s.) Its about Ezekiel in the bible how he saw the wheels in the sky.
• Juan from Eugene, Or I think that this song should have been on the soundtrack for the movie Fire in the sky with D.B Sweeney and James Garner which was about the 1975 disappearance of Travis Walton from Arizona
• Robin from Raleigh, Nc Wow, so long ago. I was doing a lot of hitchhiking then, and "I'm standing in the sleet and rain" was true so many times. Thanks for the memories, and thanks for letting me post.
• Josh from Indianapolis, In This song means life goes on move on. Journey rocks
• Ben from Banning, Ca hey Vernon americans don't speak english they speak american. the british speak american with a funny accent "know what I mean Vern?"
• Mary from Woonsocket, Albania I was told Steve Perry wrote this song about a Ferris Wheel as he traveled with a carnival at one time and ran the Ferris Wheel.
• Devin from New York, Ny I always thought this song had something to do with Egyptian mythology. I was convinced that the "wheel" was the sun god Ra. Also, "made of silver, not of clay" may point a reference to clay tablets used to write on. I don't realy know for sure but is Journey's band symbol a Scarab beetle? Very important to ancient egyptians, might want to check it out
• Matt from Houston, Tx so what does it mean?
• Izzytoxic from Atlanta, Ga I would say that "Wheel in the Sky" is one of those rare songs that without a doubt stands in the class of Rock Anthem.
• Vernon from Trinidad, Wi, Other Hey Mary in Phoenix, AZ. Thanks for pointing that out to Mike. It is after all the English spelling, and English is the language Americans speak. "Colour" is another example.
• Darrell from Eugene A wheel in the sky is a U.F.O. That is the only logical, er, semi-logical explanation unless you believe that Neeper V's, Cromodora 5-spoke alloys and Cragar SS mags are in the air along with airplanes, birds, insects, smog, U.F.O.s, etc.
• Anna from Fairfiled, Ct I think the song Wheel in the Sky refers to Ezekiel's wheel; a Spiritual wheel described by Ezekiel a prophet in the Old Testament. The Wheel apparantly is wooden with Three Animals on the outside; and the face of one man.
• Sergio from Miami, Fl "Wheel in the sky" is obviously talking about the sun turning in the sky as the days pass by on tour. "Dont know where Ill be tomorrow"
• Mary from Phoenix, Az Mike...in response to how you spell "favorites". You should know that foreign countries, like Canada and England always put a "U" in there. Same with neighbor (neighbour). Didn't they teach you that in school? No offense, I'm just asking.
• Daniel from Springfield, Ma You're all talkin' 'bout playin' it backwards, and UFO's and mythology and crap. It rocks when you play it forward, there's no need to conspiricize/philosophize about it! Just put on a pair of KOSS's and let it ROCK! Wheel in the Sky is awesome!
• Ryan from Sewickley, Pa Whell in the sky refers to some greek mythology
• Jt from Tullahoma, Tn In response to Brian, yes, this song always reminded me of that. I always thought it had to do with that. I need to try playing this song backwards... Wasn't there once a piece on this page that said it was based on something form the bible? I vaguely remember...
• Brian from Nuremberg, Germany I alway sthought that it had to do with the biblical story of Ezechiels ... the burning wheel of fire in the sky followed by angels,,,the first UFO sighting
• Mike from Erie, Pa The Wheel in the sky keeps on turning, don't know were I'll ne tommorow!!! My favorite song from Journey John this is how you spell "favorites"
• Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Fl the passing of time equals the changing of the times. hence, steve perry. still, the song rox my sox. well, one of them, anyways.
• Dave from Latham , Ny The wheel represents the sun (which is moving with time), or the passing of time.
• John from Stephenville Crossing, Canada I think this is a very good song. One of my favourites from Journey.

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Wheel in the Sky

About Wheel in the Sky

"Wheel in the Sky" is a song by the American rock band Journey, recorded in 1977 and included on their fourth studio album, Infinity. It was written and composed by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon and Diane Valory. At the time of the song's composition, the band had decided to follow a new direction into an edgier sound and began recording simple hard rock pieces with new lead vocalist Fleischman. He was replaced by Steve Perry once work on Infinity began in earnest. The song had started out as a poem called "Wheels In My Mind" by Diane Valory, the wife of Journey bassist Ross Valory. "Wheel In The Sky" reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, becoming Journey's first song to chart on the Hot 100, and also reached #45 on the Canadian RPM 100.   more »

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Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded. During that period, the band released a series of hit songs, including 1981's "Don't Stop Believin'", which became in 2009 the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history. Its parent studio album, Escape, the band's eighth and most successful, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and yielded another of their most popular singles, "Open Arms". Its 1983 follow-up, Frontiers, was almost as successful in the United States, reaching No. 2 and spawning several successful singles; it broadened the band's ap… more »

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Written by: Diane T. Valory, Neal Joseph Schon, Robert Fleischmann

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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Missing lyrics by Journey?

Know any other songs by journey don't keep it to yourself, image credit, the web's largest resource for, music, songs & lyrics, a member of the stands4 network, watch the song video, top hot 100 songs 1978, billboard #57, more tracks from the album, the essential journey [limited edition 3.0].

• #1 Only the Young
• #2 Don't Stop Believin'
• #3 Wheel in the Sky
• #4 Faithfully
• #6 Ask the Lonely
• #7 Who's Crying Now
• #8 Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
• #10 Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
• #11 Open Arms
• #12 Girl Can't Help It
• #13 Send Her My Love
• #14 When You Love a Woman
• #15 I'll Be Alright Without You
• #16 After the Fall
• #17 Chain Reaction
• #18 Message of Love
• #19 Somethin' to Hide
• #20 Line of Fire [Live]
• #21 Anytime
• #22 Stone in Love
• #23 Patiently
• #24 Good Morning Girl
• #25 The Eyes of a Woman
• #26 Be Good to Yourself
• #27 Still They Ride
• #28 Baby I'm a Leavin' You
• #29 Mother, Father
• #30 Just the Same Way
• #32 The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love) [Live]
• #33 Don't Stop Believin' [Live][*]
• #35 When I Think of You [*]
• #36 Suzanne
• #37 Walks Like a Lady [*]
• #38 Feeling That Way [*]
• #39 Mother, Father [Live][*]
• #40 I Can See It in Your Eyes [*]

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Behind the Meaning of “Wheel in the Sky,” by Journey

Origins of inspiration : bassist ross valory's wife's longing poem transformed into a reflection on the challenges of life on the road., lyricism :  journey's "wheel in the sky" delves into themes of longing, fear of loss, and the relentless passage of time., vocal evolution :  former lead vocalist robert fleischman's lyrics adapted by steve perry, reflecting his experiences on grueling tours., philosophical chorus :  the chorus embodies a metaphor for the unstoppable march of time and the uncertainty of the future., production and legacy : producer roy thomas baker shapes the song into an arena-rock anthem, marking journey's breakthrough into mainstream success., read the full article: behind the meaning of “wheel in the sky,” by journey.