Motörhead released 23 studio albums, 10 live recordings, 12 compilation albums and five EPs over a career spanning 40 years. Usually a power trio, they had particular success in the early 1980s with several successful singles in the UK Top 40 chart. The albums Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades and, particularly, the live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith cemented Motörhead's reputation as a top-tier rock band. The band are ranked number 26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. As of 2016, they have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide.
Most often classified as heavy metal, Motörhead has been credited with being part of and influencing numerous musical scenes, thrash metal and speed metal especially. Lemmy, however, always insisted that they were a rock and roll band. He said that they had more in common with punk bands, but with their own unique sound, Motörhead is embraced in both punk and metal scenes. Their lyrics typically covered such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse and, most famously, gambling, the latter theme being the focus of their hit song "Ace of Spades".
Lemmy died on 28 December 2015 from cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The day after his death, drummer Mikkey Dee and guitarist Phil Campbell both confirmed that Motörhead had disbanded. By 2018, all three members of Motörhead's best-known line-up (Lemmy, Taylor and Clarke) had died.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motörhead
Discography
Motörhead (1977)
Overkill (1979)
Bomber (1979)
On Parole (1979)
Ace of Spades (1980)
Iron Fist (1982)
Another Perfect Day (1983)
Orgasmatron (1986)
Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
1916 (1991)
March ör Die (1992)
Bastards (1993)
Sacrifice (1995)
Overnight Sensation (1996)
Snake Bite Love (1998)
We Are Motörhead (2000)
Hammered (2002)
Inferno (2004)
Kiss of Death (2006)
Motörizer (2008)
The Wörld Is Yours (2010)
Aftershock (2013)
Bad Magic (2015)
America
Motörhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The endless road, another night to bend your mind
White line fever, I think that state patrol car's still behind
America, cold as death, up to Canada, crystal meth
Another West Coast turnaround and back to start
Yakima Reservation, just another broken heart
Another schoolgirl with her daddy's Pontiac
Another killer from the wrong side of the tracks
America, fast cars
America, the girls, the bars
America, don't make no fuss
America, get on the bus
Motörhead's song "America" is a commentary on the highs and lows of the country. It looks at both the glamorous and the gritty side of the country. The lyrics speak about the endless road and the hypnotic effect it has on people, making them bend their minds to reach their destination. The line "White line fever, I think that state patrol car's still behind" highlights the reckless spirit of the people who are determined to reach their goal at any cost.
The second stanza talks about the dark underbelly of the country, where people resort to crystal meth to numb the pain. The Yakima Reservation is a reference to the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington State, which has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, and crime. The reference to "just another broken heart" highlights the hopelessness of the situation.
The third stanza talks about the fun times in America. The use of Sinsemilla and ripple wine highlights the carefree and indulgent side of the country. The reference to "Another schoolgirl with her daddy's Pontiac" and "Another killer from the wrong side of the tracks" draws attention to the contrasts in society and the social inequality that exists.
Line by Line Meaning
America, hot as hell, hysterical, cast your spell
America is a hot and intense country that has a powerful influence over people's minds and emotions.
The endless road, another night to bend your mind
Driving on America's never-ending roads can be mentally taxing and cause people to lose their sense of reality.
White line fever, I think that state patrol car's still behind
The singer has an addiction to driving on America's highways and fears getting caught by the police for breaking the speed limit.
America, cold as death, up to Canada, crystal meth
America can also be a cold and unforgiving place where people turn to drugs like crystal meth to cope with the harsh realities of life. Going up to Canada is a way to escape those issues temporarily.
Another West Coast turnaround and back to start
The singer is constantly moving from place to place, trying to find his way but always ending up back where he started.
Yakima Reservation, just another broken heart
The Yakima Reservation is a symbol of Native American struggles and their broken hearts due to the injustices they've endured in America.
America, liked it fine, Sinsemilla, ripple wine
Despite its flaws, the singer still likes America and enjoys indulging in its vices like smoking Sinsemilla and drinking ripple wine.
Another schoolgirl with her daddy's Pontiac
The singer is commenting on the frequency of underage girls driving their fathers' Pontiacs in America.
Another killer from the wrong side of the tracks
America also has a dark side with crime and violence, and the singer is referencing the idea of people from the wrong side of the tracks being more susceptible to criminal behavior.
America, fast cars
Fast cars are one of the defining features of America and its car culture.
America, the girls, the bars
The singer is referring to the attraction of American nightlife and the abundance of bars and young women.
America, don't make no fuss
Despite the complications and difficulties of living in America, the singer believes in embracing the imperfections without complaining or making a fuss.
America, get on the bus
The singer encourages others to keep moving forward and not get stuck dwelling on the past or their problems in America.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Alan Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Philip John Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind