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)
Back at the Funny Farm
Motörhead Lyrics
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Spring unwinding in my head, I don't know which is worse
I hear you talking but the words are kinda strange
One of us is crazy and the other one's insane
Stay calm, don't be alarmed, it's just a holiday
Back at the funny farm
I don't understand why everyone is in disguise
I gotta leave right now, I can't stay here no more
But I'm afraid to try in case they lock the door
Can't find no windows but I gotta get outside
Can you help me stand it feels like both my legs have died
What was that injection 'cos I think it's going wrong
I really like this jacket but the sleeves are much too long
The lyrics to Motörhead's song "Back At the Funny Farm" depict a sense of fear, confusion, and disorientation. The opening lines, "Hammer pounding in my heart, I think it's gonna burst, Spring unwinding in my head, I don't know which is worse," suggest a feeling of panic and anxiety. The singer is hearing someone talking, but the words are "kinda strange," which adds to their confusion.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is in some kind of mental institution or "funny farm." They describe a "cold white room" and being unable to recognize anyone due to the "disguises" they are wearing. The singer is desperate to leave but is afraid that they will be locked inside if they try. The reference to an injection going wrong implies that they may have been given some kind of medication to control their behavior or thoughts.
Despite the unsettling subject matter, the refrain of "Stay calm, don't be alarmed, it's just a holiday, Back at the funny farm" gives the song an almost lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek quality. It's as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that the situation isn't as dire as it seems.
Overall, the lyrics to "Back At the Funny Farm" paint a vivid and unsettling picture of someone struggling with their mental health and feeling trapped in a place they don't want to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Hammer pounding in my heart, I think it's gonna burst
I am feeling intense anxiety that is making my heart race and it feels like it's going to explode
Spring unwinding in my head, I don't know which is worse
I am experiencing a mental breakdown and it is difficult to determine which symptom is causing the most distress
I hear you talking but the words are kinda strange
I am hearing you speak, but your words are not making sense to me
One of us is crazy and the other one's insane
I am questioning our sanity and cannot tell who between us is the more unstable one
Stay calm, don't be alarmed, it's just a holiday
Please remain calm even though we are in an abnormal situation, as this is a vacation after all
Back at the funny farm
We are back at the mental institution where we had previously been committed and treated
Nothing in this cold white room to help me recognize
I cannot identify anything in this sterile white room that could provide a clue or trigger a memory
I don't understand why everyone is in disguise
I am confused as to why everyone is wearing masks or costumes, and I cannot discern their true identities
I gotta leave right now, I can't stay here no more
I must depart this place immediately as I cannot bear to remain here any longer
But I'm afraid to try in case they lock the door
I am hesitant to attempt to leave, as I fear the staff may prevent or forbid me from doing so by locking the exits
Can't find no windows but I gotta get outside
I am unable to locate any windows in this room, but I desperately need to escape outdoors
Can you help me stand it feels like both my legs have died
I require assistance to stand up as my legs have become so weak that they feel as if they have lost their functionality
What was that injection 'cos I think it's going wrong
I am concerned about the effects of a recent injection, as it seems to be having adverse effects
I really like this jacket but the sleeves are much too long
I am wearing a jacket that I find aesthetically pleasing, but the sleeves are disproportionately elongated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Robertson, Ian Kilmister, Philip John Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind