Song
Wind of Change
Scorpions
Album:
Crazy World
Song Meaning of Wind of Change by Scorpions
With lyrics inspired by a Russia slowly thawing under glasnost and a famously whistled opening, the power ballad Wind of Change became a symbol of international brotherhood as the Cold War ended. It was a creative volte-face for a heavy metal band known for Spinal Tap-esque album covers and their promise to "rock you like a hurricane."
Klaus Meine, the lead singer of the German rock group Scorpions, wrote it after the Moscow Peace Festival in 1989, where he saw tens of thousands of young Russians absolutely lose it to Western rock music for the first time.
The savage, hard rock band tried to open the song with a heavy guitar intro, but Meine decided to go with his own idea of an opening whistling melody (inspired by his experience hearing a balalaika—a Russian stringed instrument similar to the guitar but with three strings) and the result is one of the most iconic song openings ever.
The song is still a cherished anthem for people all over the world who are fighting for justice, equality, and human rights. It's played at protests and demonstrations, and the lyrics have been used as slogans and rallying cries.
Wind of Change lyrics by Scorpions
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
The world is closing in
And did you ever think?
That we could be so close?
Like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change
(Mmmmmmm)
Walking down the street
And distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I follow the Moskva
And down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On a glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams (share their dreams)
With you and me (you and me)
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On a glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change (wind of change)
The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring
The freedom bell for peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to sing (sing)
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On a glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams (share their dreams)
With you and me (you and me)
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On a glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change (wind of change)
Release Date
1990
Songwriter/s
Klaus Meine
Producer/s
Keith Olsen, Scorpions
Label/s
Mercury, Vertigo
