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)
Desperate For You
Motörhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I call your bluff
Who's there? Who's there?
I think I know, but I don't think I care
Came in on the Flyer honey, 1952.
I ain't for hire for money so I'll tell you what I'll do
I'm gonna be a gangster, a gangster of love
I might not be Al Capone, but I think I'll be quite good
I think I'm a desperado, desperate for you
Way cool. Way cool.
I don't talk like this, but I like to bend the rules.
Too bad, it's too bad.
To think of the face of a man whose woman you had
Came in on the Silver Streak, 1964.
I ain't for hire for money, but it sure beats being poor
I'm gonna be an outlaw, just like Jesse James
Rob all of your banks
And the occasional train And if Bobby Ford should shoot me,
I know just what you'd do
That's why I'm a desperado, desperate for you.
I'm gonna blow your brains out, just like Sirhan Sirhan
You might not remember him, but believe me I sure can
Gonna be a national hero, gonna be a household name
Gonna be like a roaring wind, like a hurricane
You'll never see it coming, might not hear it too
You know I'm a desperado, desperate for you
Desperate man, you know that's me Baby
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
But it can be arranged
The lyrics to Motörhead's "Desperate For You" are steeped in references to pop culture and historical figures, all expressing the singer's desperate desire for a lover. The song opens with the singer questioning their potential lover, daring them to reveal themselves, and expressing a willingness to become a "gangster of love" in order to win their affection. The singer then delves into references to trains and bandits, expressing a desire to become an outlaw like Jesse James and rob banks and trains before becoming a national hero. The lyrics also briefly reference political assassin Sirhan Sirhan, suggesting that the singer will be similarly remembered for their actions. Ultimately, the song expresses a deep desperation to win the affection of the unknown lover.
The song's references to pop culture, historical figures, and their own desires are all meant to paint a picture of a speaker deeply entrenched in their own desires and willing to do whatever they can to fulfill them. The singer's desire to become a gangster or an outlaw are both expressions of a desire for power and control over their own life, as well as a way to impress their potential lover. The references to Jesse James and Sirhan Sirhan are both examples of figures who have been romanticized in popular culture, suggesting that the singer sees themselves as similarly capable of achieving greatness. Ultimately, the desperate tone of the lyrics underscores the singer's vulnerability and their need for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
What's up? What's up? What's up motherfucker?
Greetings! I'm looking for a confrontation with you.
I think I call your bluff
I believe you're lying and I'm calling you out on it.
Who's there? Who's there?
I hear someone, but I'm not too concerned with who it is.
I think I know, but I don't think I care
I have an idea of who it could be, but it's not important to me.
Came in on the Flyer honey, 1952.
I arrived on a train in 1952, but I'm not for sale.
I ain't for hire for money so I'll tell you what I'll do
I'm not a mercenary, but I have a plan.
I'm gonna be a gangster, a gangster of love
I'm going to charm and seduce you with my love.
I might not be Al Capone, but I think I'll be quite good
I may not be famous, but I'm confident in my abilities.
I'm all I got right now, so what are we gonna do
I'm relying on myself and wondering what our next move should be.
I think I'm a desperado, desperate for you
I'm a risky and dangerous person who desires you strongly.
Way cool. Way cool.
This situation is awesome and exciting.
I don't talk like this, but I like to bend the rules.
I'm breaking my own mold and enjoying it.
Too bad, it's too bad.
It's a shame that you'll have to deal with the aftermath of my actions.
To think of the face of a man whose woman you had
I can only imagine the jealousy and anger of the man whose partner I seduced.
Came in on the Silver Streak, 1964.
In 1964, I entered by train again, but this time with a new plan.
I ain't for hire for money, but it sure beats being poor
Even though I'm not a sellout, it's better than being broke.
I'm gonna be an outlaw, just like Jesse James
I'm going to pursue a life of crime, like the famous outlaw Jesse James.
Rob all of your banks
I'll steal all your money from your banks.
And the occasional train And if Bobby Ford should shoot me,
I'll also rob trains and accept the risk of being killed by someone like Bobby Ford.
I know just what you'd do
I can predict and assume your reactions.
That's why I'm a desperado, desperate for you.
My outlaw and reckless behavior stems from my strong hunger for you.
I'm gonna blow your brains out, just like Sirhan Sirhan
I'll brutally assassinate you, much like Sirhan Sirhan did.
You might not remember him, but believe me I sure can
Although you may not know about Sirhan Sirhan, I'm aware of his violent act.
Gonna be a national hero, gonna be a household name
I'm going to achieve fame and respect for my bold actions.
Gonna be like a roaring wind, like a hurricane
My impact will be strong and felt, like a storm.
You'll never see it coming, might not hear it too
My strike will be sudden and silent.
You know I'm a desperado, desperate for you
My violent and criminal behavior links back to my strong desire for you.
Desperate man, you know that's me Baby
I'm a reckless, desperate man and you know it, babe.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
No one can fully understand the challenges and risks I've faced.
But it can be arranged
There's always a way to make things happen and take risks if necessary.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN FRASER KILMISTER, MICAEL KIRIAKOS DELAOGLOU, MICHAEL KIRIAKOS DELAOGLOU, PHILIP ANTHONY CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind