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)
Built for Speed
Motörhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try and do what's right
And I swear I can't complain
If I die tonight
But I don't think its in the stars
For me to go that way
I'll be here for a long, long time babe
I'm here to stay
I was born to rock n roll, everything I need
I was born with the hammer down
I was built for speed
Bet your life it ain't no easy money
But you won't hear me bitch
Spent a long time wrecked and funny
I've got the ten year itch
See me running all around the world
Trying to make some time
A million miles, a million girls
A million real good times
I was born to rock n roll, everything I need
I was born with the hammer down
I was built for speed
Don't you listen to a single word
Against rock' n roll
The new religion, the electric church
The only way to go
I don't give a good goddamn
My life's been alright
I'm gonna crazy out of my mind
Every single night
I was born to rock n roll, everything I need
I was born with the hammer down
I was built for speed
The lyrics to Motörhead's song "Built for Speed" tell the story of a hard-living, hard-rocking musician who is dedicated to his craft. The song opens with a statement of the rules of the game, and the singer acknowledges that he is doing everything he can to follow them, even if it means facing death. However, he doesn't think that his time has come, and he is determined to stay on this earth for as long as possible.
The chorus of the song makes it clear that the singer was "born to rock n roll" and that he was "built for speed." He is a man who loves to push the limits and doesn't believe in taking it easy. He has spent a lot of time on the road, but he wouldn't have it any other way. The singer also notes that being a rock n roll musician isn't easy money, but he doesn't complain because he loves what he does.
The final verse of the song refers to the concept of rock n roll as a religion, or even an electric church. The singer doesn't care what anyone thinks of his chosen path, and he is determined to keep on living life to the fullest, even if it means going crazy every single night. The lyrics to "Built for Speed" are a celebration of the rock n roll lifestyle, and they show how determined the singer is to keep on living it to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the rules, you all know the game
Try and do what's right
And I swear I can't complain
If I die tonight
But I don't think its in the stars
For me to go that way
I'll be here for a long, long time babe
I'm here to stay
I understand the rules and expectations of life and I'll do my best to live up to them. I can't complain if I die because I know I tried to do what's right, but I have a feeling that's not how things are going to end for me. I plan on sticking around for a while and making my mark on the world.
I was born to rock n roll, everything I need
I was born with the hammer down
I was built for speed
Music is my life and my passion. I was born to perform and I'll do whatever it takes to succeed. I have the drive and the talent to go as far as I want, as fast as I want.
Bet your life it ain't no easy money
But you won't hear me bitch
Spent a long time wrecked and funny
I've got the ten year itch
Making music may not be the easiest way to earn a living, but I'm not one to complain. I've been through some rough times and come out the other side a little battered and bruised, but still ready to keep going. I have a restless spirit and I'm always looking for something new to challenge me.
See me running all around the world
Trying to make some time
A million miles, a million girls
A million real good times
I'm always on the go, always trying to see and experience as much as possible. I've traveled far and wide, met all sorts of people, and had some truly amazing times along the way.
Don't you listen to a single word
Against rock' n roll
The new religion, the electric church
The only way to go
I don't give a good goddamn
My life's been alright
I'm gonna crazy out of my mind
Every single night
Rock 'n roll is more than just music to me. It's a way of life and a philosophy. It's about freedom, passion, and living life on your own terms. I don't care what anyone else thinks or says, I know what's right for me. I've had a good life so far, but I'm not content to just coast along. I want to push myself and see just how crazy I can get.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ian Fraser Kilminster, Michael Burston, Peter Gill, Philip Campbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind