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if i were alive
if i were real
would you survive
what would you feel
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
as sentimental as our broken dreams
let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save so soul
let me die, let me die rock and roll
let the word forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the poison lies
let me go, let me go rock and roll
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
when they're metal, in their metal machines
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
if i were dead
would my records sell
could you even tell
is it just as you hope
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
it's all our mental, to all the once stiff wings
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
let me die for rock and roll
let me die and save my soul
let me go, let me go rock and roll
let the word forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the poison lies
let me go, let me die rock and roll
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
when they're metal, and they're trying an excuse
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
will i survive
is it up to me
could you understand
that it's not yours to keep
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
if i were real
would you survive
what would you feel
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
as sentimental as our broken dreams
let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save so soul
let me die, let me die rock and roll
let the word forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the poison lies
let me go, let me go rock and roll
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
when they're metal, in their metal machines
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
if i were dead
would my records sell
could you even tell
is it just as you hope
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
it's all our mental, to all the once stiff wings
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
let me die for rock and roll
let me die and save my soul
let me go, let me go rock and roll
let the word forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the poison lies
let me go, let me die rock and roll
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
when they're metal, and they're trying an excuse
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
will i survive
is it up to me
could you understand
that it's not yours to keep
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
Lyrics submitted by Ice
Track duration: 05:53
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It's actualy simple, when you look at it.
The heavy metal machine is a box in wich his heart(his emotions) are encased, and it's a machine in the sence that it's artificial, and the author gives inteligence to it, so it can speak and express itself.
if i were alive
if i were real
would you survive
what would you feel
if this machine would exist, would it be possible to live?
let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save so soul
let me die, let me die rock and roll
let the world forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the boys at last
let me go, let me go rock and roll
if the author truly could shut out his emotions and let this machine live, could he be able to write good music? let the machine die for the music, so that his soul wont become bitter
if i were dead
would my records sell
could you even tell
is it just as well
I believe he insults his fans in these verses, he again thinks about the possibility to make music without emotion, if this machine around his heart were dead, would his records sell more? Or maybe not, maybe no one would notice the difference, and it would be as well
will i survive
is it up to me
could you understand
that it's not yours to keep
maybe he's trying to say in these verses that he's considering about building this machine, this heart and emotion encasing box, but in the end it's not realy up to him, because his heart is no longer his, it belongs to someone else, but this part isin't quite clear to me
hope i've shed some light, i realy love this one
Also Billy kinda hinted at how Adore (the bands softer,more melodic album) alienated alot of their fans and then he felt like The Smashing Pumpkins basically had to become a"heay metal machine" on Machina/The Machines of God to bring them back.
There seem to be errors in these lyrics that have been posted. ...Somewhat large errors that drastically change the meaning of this song.
The following changes should be made:
"when they're metal, in their metal machines"
Should be
"We're the metal, in their metal machines"
"when they're metal, and they're trying an excuse"
Should be
"We're the metal
In their droning schemes"
"it's all our mental, to all the once stiff wings"
Should be
"It's elemental
To all the rust it brings"
This is what azlyrics.com listed the lyrics as, I'd say consult a booklet from Machina/the machines of God to get them 100% straight. I only have the LP version of Machina, so rather than havign the lyrics listed I have a bunch of pages with paintings on them, plus an excerpt from a song (Glass and the Ghost Children).
I always thought the lyrics I posted just now were the right ones, if they aren't then I am sorry for wasting my life and your time, but if they are right they lead me to think that this song is about how everyone is just a pawn, a sheep in a much larger plot.
if i were alive
if i were real
would you survive
what would you feel
and it's sort of about the isolation you get from being a star and how you stop being seen as a person, and maybe even how you become that heavy metal machine, like when you're onstage or something
let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save so soul
let me die, let me die rock and roll
well, it's a wonderful song. i think it should be a classic.