Buried Alive
Motörhead Lyrics


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Times are hard and times are bad
Nobody is innocent
Say just what you want to see
Tell me who you want to be
See the only friend you got
Open throat and money shot

Gone for the day, out for a ride
Can't stay in here so I'm going outside
Burned in the sun, soaked to the skin
Buried alive and it's doing me in

Time is now and you're the one
Keep us from our liberty
In the night we spend our seed
Listening to women bleed
See the one you want the most
Hanging from the whipping post

Gone for a smoke, out for the day
Can't stand the pain so I'm going away
Taken in lust, given in sin
Buried alive and it's doing me in, oh yeah

Time to be the man you are
Nobody is gonna win
All the time we see the deal
Devil driver, hell on wheels
See the world and shoot it dead
Burn the town and paint it red

Gone for a swim, can't bear to see
How good what I can't get making me bleed
Can't make me you, I'm only a game
Buried alive, I'm going insane

Shoot me right down, can't get my fun
Don't hunt me down with a big shiny gun
Lost in the ozone, gone for a swim




Buried alive and it's doing me in
Doing me, doing me in

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Motörhead's song "Buried Alive" speak of difficult times and how no one is innocent. The lyrics go on to question society's imposed norms and expectations of individuals. Lemmy, the lead singer and songwriter of the band, challenges the listener to question who they truly want to be, and who they see as their only friend. The phrase "open throat and money shot" is a metaphor for the music industry, a business that chews up and spits out artists.


The second verse of the song talks about the struggle for personal freedom, how our liberty is being held back by those who seek control. Lemmy speaks of the oppression and mistreatment of women, and how society desires to see them suffer. The line "Hanging from the whipping post" references the lynching of black people in America, as well as the brutal public punishment of women for perceived misconduct.


The final verse of the song portrays a sense of hopelessness and despair. Lemmy sings about the devil's hold on our lives, and how it leads us to destruction. The line "Lost in the ozone, gone for a swim" references the state of mind one gets from indulging in drugs or other substances. The song ends on a note of resignation and acceptance of fate.


Line by Line Meaning

Times are hard and times are bad
We are currently facing difficult times


Nobody is innocent
Everyone is guilty of something


Say just what you want to see
Speak only the things you desire to see


Tell me who you want to be
Communicate your dream personality


See the only friend you got
Your only companion is yourself


Open throat and money shot
Thinking of yourself and instant gratification


Gone for the day, out for a ride
Leaving home for a quick ride


Can't stay in here, so I'm going outside
Leaving a place that you don't want to be in


Burned in the sun, soaked to the skin
Feeling exhausted from being under the sun and drenched in water


Buried alive and it's doing me in
Feeling trapped and it's causing mental distress


Time is now and you're the one
The present moment is crucial and you are the key factor


Keep us from our liberty
Preventing others from being free


In the night we spend our seed
Having sexual intercourse during nighttime


Listening to women bleed
Hearing women suffer


See the one you want the most
Desiring someone you can't have


Hanging from the whipping post
Punished for past wrongdoings


Gone for a smoke, out for the day
Taking a break for the day to smoke


Can't stand the pain so I'm going away
Leaving to avoid emotional pain


Taken in lust, given in sin
Indulging in desire and engaging in immoral activities


Buried alive and it's doing me in, oh yeah
Trapped and feeling helpless


Time to be the man you are
Stand up and be yourself


Nobody is gonna win
Nothing good comes from conflict


All the time we see the deal
We witness the usual procedure


Devil driver, hell on wheels
Dangerous and reckless behavior


See the world and shoot it dead
Conquer the world with harmful intentions


Burn the town and paint it red
Destroy everything and leave chaos in its wake


Gone for a swim, can't bear to see
Going for a swim to avoid seeing something difficult


How good what I can't get's making me bleed
Missing out on something great that's hurting you


Can't make me you, I'm only a game
You have no power over me, I'm just entertainment


Buried alive, I'm going insane
Trapped and losing my mind


Shoot me right down, can't get my fun
I can't engage in my preferred activities


Don't hunt me down with a big shiny gun
Don't try to control me with flashy displays of power


Lost in the ozone, gone for a swim
Engulfed in a haze and retreated for a swim


Buried alive and it's doing me in
Trapped and it's causing great distress


Doing me, doing me in
Causing my downfall




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Philip Anthony Campbell, Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou, Ian Fraser Kilmister

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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