The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a joke, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works. They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! Alright, they're not all punk, but they come from roughly the same era. The songs are mostly given a kind of Celtic feel, with the odd reel and jig stuck here and there. But occassionally they just thrash! They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the 70s!
Other musicians recording and appearing with the Bad Shapherds include Carol Dawson (fiddle), Eimear Bradley (fiddle), Keith Angel (percussion), Mark Woolley (percussion), Martin Allcock (bass), Brad Lang (bass) and Tim Harries (bass).
Their albums include:
Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (2008)
By Hook or By Crook (2010)
Ace of Spades
The Bad Shepherds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You win some, lose some, it's all the same to me
The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil
Seven or eleven, snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit, double stake or split
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
You know I'm born to lose
And gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby
I don't wanna live forever
And don't forget the joker
Pushing up the ante, I know you've got to see me
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
The Bad Shepherds’ cover of Motörhead’s classic hit “Ace of Spades” is a must-listen for rock and folk enthusiasts. The lyrics speak of playing the game of life without any inhibitions, fueled by the desire to win and the rush of adrenaline that comes with it. The singer of the song considers himself an expert in the game of gambling, who enjoys the thrill of taking risks and living the moment. He expresses how he is not driven by greed or peer pressure, stating that the only card he needs to win is the “Ace of Spades.”
The song talks about the power of chance, the consequences of failure, and the lure of temptations. The lyrics go beyond the traditional metaphor of playing cards and propose it as an analogy for life’s choices. Whether the high stakes gamble refers to taking risks in love, work or destiny, the lyrics speak of playing without fear and living for the moment, as we are all born to lose.
In conclusion, The Bad Shepherds’ version of “Ace of Spades” is a gritty, acoustic rendition of Motörhead’s hit, expressing the intensity and thrill of taking risks in life, delivered through the powerful lyrics and connection between the singer and the audience.
Line by Line Meaning
If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
If you enjoy taking risks, then I am the person for you
You win some, lose some, it's all the same to me
I am indifferent to winning or losing since it's all a part of the game
The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
Playing itself is rewarding, regardless of others' opinions
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
I don't have the same desire for wealth as you do. All I need is
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
The best possible card which serves my purpose
Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil
Risking everything and playing with danger
Going with the flow, it's all a game to me
I am carefree and casual, treating life as a game
Seven or eleven, snake eyes watching you
Various types of rolls in the popular game of craps
Double up or quit, double stake or split
Raising the stakes or walking away
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
The one card that holds all power and purpose for me
You know I'm born to lose
It's a part of who I am to never win consistently in gambling
And gambling's for fools
Generally viewed as something foolish to engage in
But that's the way I like it, baby
But for me, it's how I prefer to live my life
I don't wanna live forever
I have no interest in longevity or security for the future
And don't forget the joker
An additional card that can serve a special purpose
Pushing up the ante, I know you've got to see me
I am upping the stakes and challenging you to match me
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again
These cards are making your hand so terrible that you will lose everything
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
I am so confident in my hand that I know I can see the despair in your eyes
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be
The only thing of relevance now is that you know you will lose to me
The ace of spades
The ace of spades
All I need is this one card to crush you in the game
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.