The band is best known for their singles "Ball of Confusion" (1985, a Temptations cover), "No New Tale to Tell" (1987), "So Alive" (1989) and "No Big Deal" (1990).
L&R's first album was 1985's trippy Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven; Seventh Dream was followed in quick succession by 1986's Express;which featured a cover of Ball of Confusion, which became a club hit. 1987's Earth * Sun * Moon and 1989's eponymously titled release Love and Rockets (all on Beggar's Banquet). Love & Rockets was met with cries of sellout due to the overly slick So Alive (the band toured stadiums following the hit single) and the group disbanded. Tracks recorded for an abandoned EP Swing were added to a reissue of Love & Rockets in 2002.
After working on solo albums they reformed, recorded material for Hot Trip to Heaven which infused dance/electronica elements into their sound. Fearing the world wasn't prepared for it yet in 1992, they waited until 1994 to release it. A fire destroyed the studio they were working in, and all material was scrapped. The next album, Sweet F.A. features one of Daniel Ash's charred guitars on the front cover. The final album Lift was an epic dance/electronic swan song, owing much to producer Doug DeAngelis, who was given honorary L&R member status. After the Lift tour, they disbanded again in 1999 to work on solo projects, and to reform Bauhaus for a series of tours. L&R reunited in 2007 at Coachella. Plans for a 2009/2010 release fell through as the band went their separate ways again.
On 23 January 2023, Love and Rockets announced a reunion for an appearance at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California on 20 May 2023, the band's first concert in 15 years. They later announced a 2023 U.S. tour in support of their appearance at Cruel World. A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab. Daniel Ash said that the 2023 tour would be the band's final.
I Feel Speed
Love And Rockets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Motorcycle set me free
The motorbike don't go to fast
Just sets me free
Just you and me
You set me free
Just you and me
High
I feel warm inside
On my motorcycle
The wind is all around
We are free
Me and the motorcycle
We
We are free
You set me high
The lyrics of Love And Rockets's song, "I Feel Speed," paint a vivid picture of a profound relationship between the singer and their motorcycle. The feeling of freedom and liberation is emphasized through the mention of the motorcycle setting them free, and the sensation of the wind around them. The lyrics also suggest that this freedom is a shared feeling between the singer and their motorcycle, as they describe themselves and the motorcycle as "we" and declare their mutual freedom.
The use of the motorcycle as a symbol for freedom is a common motif in music, literature, and popular culture. It represents rebellion, independence, and a desire to break free from the constraints of society. The lyrics of "I Feel Speed" further emphasize this concept by describing the motorcycle in terms of its ability to set the singer free, both physically and emotionally. By doing so, the song celebrates the idea of personal freedom and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Motorcycle and me
The motorcycle is a significant part of my life
Motorcycle set me free
The motorcycle brings me a sense of liberation and freedom
The motorbike don't go too fast
The speed of the bike isn't important as much as the experience it provides
Just sets me free
The motorcycle is a means of escape and personal emancipation
Just you and me
The relationship between the rider and the motorcycle
You set me free
The motorcycle is freeing and empowering
Just you and me
The intersection between the rider and the motorcycle
You set me high
The motorcycle provides a heightened state of awareness and euphoria
High
The experience of being on a motorcycle is exhilarating
I feel warm inside
The rider experiences a sense of contentment and comfort
On my motorcycle
The motorcycle is a personal possession and a source of pride
The wind is all around
The rider is engulfed in their surroundings
We are free
The relationship between the rider and the motorcycle
Me and the motorcycle
The relationship between the rider and the motorcycle
We
The unity between the rider and the motorcycle
You set me high
The rider experiences a heightened sense of being on a motorcycle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ephraimdrakeful
this is my favorite Love and Rockets song....hands down. Love the vibe, been dying to cover this piece for years.
@elenasalvatore8262
I fucking love this song too bro
@loudmusic67
Saw these guys in concert in 1995...all I could say was WOW.
@amazonjunglespirit
in Toronto?
@llednop
Didn't know this song until tonight! Great song from an underrated band!
@sydfan526
Great tune - haven't heard it in years. Thanks.
@darkangelinthedesert
This song is an incredibly powerful lull from the dreary, melodic druthers of a middle of the nights dream.....
@shyman99
This was quite a contrast to their spastic rocker "Motorcycle" on the album. I felt this was the best song on the album. Even better than "So Alive". Heck, this is the best thing they ever did. It's a classic.
@stevesemenuk4497
Could not agree more. A true masterpiece, made even better by its placement in the album
@stevesemenuk4497
Motorcycle>I feel speed>bound for hell: best 1-2-3 punch on any record. I feel speed after the massive dissonant crescendo of Motorcycle is pure bliss. Brings a tear.