Motorbreath Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Living and dying, laughing and crying
Once you have seen it, you'll never be the same
Life in the fast lane is just how it seems
Hard and it's heavy, it's dirty and mean

[Chorus]
Motorbreath, it's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath, the sign of living fast
It is going to take your breath away

[Verse 2]
Don't stop for nothing, it's full speed or nothing
I am taking down you know whatever is in my way
Getting your kicks as you are shooting the line
Sending the shivers up and down my spine

[Chorus]
Motorbreath, it's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath, the sign of living fast
It is going to take your breath away

[Guitar Solo]

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About

Genius Annotation

This song is about living in the fast lane, not sitting back and letting life go by. The true metal way. The Motorhead influence is seen right in the title.

James Hetfield wrote this song with his high school friend Hugh Tanner before Metallica was even formed.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Metallica say about "Motorbreath"?
Genius Answer

Lyrically and musically, it seems to be a shoutout to one of the band’s biggest influences: Motörhead.

No, “Motorbreath” was actually something that Hetfield had brought in from somewhere else, something that we heavied up and sped up. I don’t think the word ‘Motor’ in “Motorbreath” correlates to ‘Motor’ in Motörhead. It was purely coincidental.

Lars Ulrich, Metal Hammer

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