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)

Dancing on Your Grave
Motörhead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know you thought you're a real operator
But I don't know why
All you had was a bankroll, babe
And a glint in your eye
I'm high steppin' like an Indian brave
I'm the one dancing on your grave

You know I'm a killer, babe

Here's late news for you
You couldn't buy me with a million, babe
'Cause I'm too good for you
I know you think I'm real rough trade
Now I'm the one dancing on your grave

One time you was a real high-stepper
On the high trapeze
But you know you ran out of money
Wound up on your knees
I'm the one you never made
And now I'm the one dancing on your grave

I'm the one

Overall Meaning

The song Dancing on Your Grave by Motörhead is a representation of Lemmy Kilmister's anti-establishment attitude, which was a hallmark of the band's music. The lyrics of the song are directed towards someone who thought they were an operator but had nothing other than money and a certain air about them. The singer of the song is high-stepping like an Indian brave, which basically means that they're dancing all over the other person's grave, which means that they're in a place of power and are celebrating it.

The second stanza of the song is a warning to the person being addressed. It says that the singer is a killer and that no amount of money could sway them. This stanza portrays the singer's confidence and bravado, indicating that they're the one in control. The third stanza is a flashback to the past, where the person being addressed was a high-stepper on the trapeze, meaning they had a good life. However, they eventually ran out of money and fell to their knees, which is a representation of the consequences of their actions. The last line reiterates the fact that the singer is the one who has come out on top.

Line by Line Meaning

I know you thought you're a real operator
You might have judged me as a ruthless killer

But I don't know why
But I have news for you, my dear

All you had was a bankroll, babe
You only had some cash and a cunning look

And a glint in your eye
As I surpass your level of mere appearance

I'm high steppin' like an Indian brave
I'm stepping up like a fearless warrior

I'm the one dancing on your grave
Defiantly treading on your grave

You know I'm a killer, babe
You might have judged me as a ruthless killer

Here's late news for you
But I have news for you, my dear

You couldn't buy me with a million, babe
Your wealth couldn't buy me, not even for a penny

'Cause I'm too good for you
As I surpass your level of mere appearance

I know you think I'm real rough trade
You thought I was nothing more than rough trade