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)
Stay Clean
Motörhead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know the way, I know the law
I can't believe, can't obey
Can't agree with all the things that they say
Oh no, ask me why
I can't go on with all the filthy white lies
Stay clean, stay clean
Don't you know, all the time
You got yours and you know that I have mine
Grab a hold, don't let go
Don't let them rob you of the only way you know
Oh no, no one else
Got the right to make you sorry for yourself
Stay clean, stay clean
Stay clean, stay clean, all right
So you see, the only proof
Of what you are is in the way you hear the truth
Don't be scared, live to win
Although they're always gonna tell you it's a sin
In the end, you're on your own
And there is no one that can stop you being alone
Stay clean, stay clean
Stay clean, stay clean, it's your only hope
In "Stay Clean," Motörhead warns against conformity and blind obedience to authority. The singer has seen it all before and knows the way and the law, but cannot believe or agree with everything that society wants him to. He cannot go on with all the "filthy white lies," or the lies that white society tells to keep others down, and he urges listeners to "stay clean" and not succumb to the pressures of society.
The song advises against letting others rob you of the only way you know, encouraging people to grab hold of the truth and not let go. Motörhead asserts that the only proof of who you are is in the way you hear the truth and that one should not be scared to live to win, despite society's warnings that it's a sin. Ultimately, the song affirms that individuals are on their own, and while it may be lonely, staying clean and true to oneself is the only option.
Line by Line Meaning
I can tell, seen before
I have experienced this situation before and can recognize it.
Know the way, I know the law
I know what needs to be done, and I know the consequences of my actions.
I can't believe, can't obey
I cannot believe or follow the rules that do not align with my beliefs.
Can't agree with all the things that they say
I cannot support or accept everything that is being told to me by others.
Oh no, don't ask me why
I do not need to explain or justify my actions to anyone.
I can't go on with all the filthy white lies
I cannot continue to live in a world where people lie and deceive one another.
Stay clean, stay clean
It is important to remain true to oneself and avoid the negative influences of others.
Don't you know, all the time
It should be clear to everyone that we are each responsible for our own lives.
You got yours and you know that I have mine
We each have our own paths to follow in life, and should respect each other's choices.
Grab a hold, don't let go
Take control of your life and do not let others steer you away from your goals.
Don't let them rob you of the only way you know
Do not allow others to take away your individuality and unique perspective on life.
Oh no, no-one else
No one has the right to dictate how you should live or feel about yourself.
Got the right to make you sorry for yourself
No one has the right to make you feel bad about yourself or your decisions.
Stay clean, stay clean
Prioritize your own well-being and values over those of others, to stay true to yourself.
So you see, the only proof
The only way to prove who you truly are is by living authentically, and following your own beliefs.
Of what you are is in the way you hear the truth
Your true character is revealed by how you perceive and respond to the truth.
Don't be scared, live to win
Do not be afraid to pursue what you truly want in life, even if it means taking risks.
Although they're always gonna tell you it's a sin
Many people will try to discourage you from following your own path, and may even see it as immoral.
In the end, you're on your own
Ultimately, you are responsible for living your own life, and must make your own choices.
And there is no-one that can stop you being alone
You can never truly rely on anyone else, and must be able to stand on your own two feet.
Stay clean, stay clean
Stay true to your values and beliefs, and do not be swayed by the negative influences of others.
Stay clean, stay clean, it's our only offer
The only way to live an authentic and fulfilling life is by staying true to oneself, no matter what others say or do.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Alan Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Philip John Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind