Motörhead was an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead … Read Full Bio ↴Motörhead was an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal, which re-energised heavy metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though several guitarists and drummers have played in Motörhead, most of their best-selling albums and singles feature drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke.

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)

Civil War
Motörhead Lyrics

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White noise is coming
The wolf at your door
Do you hear the drummin'?
Outside your window
Outside your window

Civil war, civil war
All your yesterdays gone before

Civil war, civil war
Can you tell me what you're fighting for?

Soldiers of Fortune
The traitor within
Blood on the pale moon
Outside your window
Outside your window

Children learn to kill
Bet your ass you'll pay the bill
Season of the dog
The dollar takes the place of God

Death laughs in your face
Anarchy will take your place
You give all your children guns
See what you have done
Backlash coming soon
Joker gonna call the tune

Your children are learning
You teach them to hate
Your cities are burning

Outside your window
Outside your window

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Civil War" by Motörhead describe a world torn apart by conflicts and wars. The opening lines create a sense of impending danger, with the reference to white noise being a metaphor for the sound of battle or chaos. The wolf at the door symbolizes an enemy force attacking from outside, and the relentless drumming underscores the sense of urgency and tension.

The chorus "Civil war, civil war, all your yesterdays gone before" suggests that the strife and devastation of war have erased any semblance of peace or stability from the past. The repetition of the phrase "civil war" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the conflict and the futility of the fighting. The second half of the chorus, "Can you tell me what you're fighting for?" forces the listener to question the reasons behind the violence and whether it is worth the cost.

The second verse introduces the idea of traitors and mercenaries, highlighting the role of greed and betrayal in perpetuating wars. The line "children learn to kill, bet your ass you'll pay the bill" speaks to the cycle of violence and the long-term effect it has on generations. The final section of the song predicts a reckoning, with the joker calling the tune and anarchy taking over.

Overall, "Civil War" is a powerful condemnation of the destructiveness of conflict and the cycle of violence that ensues. The lyrics do not offer any easy solutions, but call on listeners to consider the true cost of war and strive for peace and reconciliation.

Line by Line Meaning

White noise is coming
A loud, unpleasant noise is approaching

The wolf at your door
There is a danger or threat nearby

Do you hear the drummin'?
Can you hear the sounds of war approaching?

Outside your window
The chaos is happening nearby

Civil war, civil war
A call to the ongoing war

All your yesterdays gone before
The past is over, and cannot be changed

Can you tell me what you're fighting for?
It's not clear what the cause of the war is

Soldiers of Fortune
Mercenaries who fight for money, not patriotism

The traitor within
There is someone who is secretly working against you

Blood on the pale moon
The moon is a symbol for the ongoing violence

Children learn to kill
The young are being taught violent ways