I first remember hearing this song when it came out back in 1994 with the release of their debut album Sixteen Stone. I instantly fell in love with this song. Years later when I was able to get CD’s for myself I got Sixteen Stone as soon as possible.

The song reels you in from the first chord and takes you all the way to the last. The main riff that is repeated throughout in slight variations is simply astounding in terms of effectiveness, however simple it may be. It carries an enormous amount of energy with it as well. The momentum continues to build and build making it seem as though it may never stop. Even during the break there’s a momentum that is building. The drummer is an animal. He keeps pounding away at his drumset as if it might be his last. He only stops during that break mentioned early which gives it a eerie feeling.

The lyrics are hard to decipher, like most Bush songs. There doesn’t seem to be a clear meaning behind it because all the words seem to have hidden meanings. Some see it as being a struggle in a relationship others see it as a either an experience on drugs and alcohol or even how his music and guitar amp (the machine head) makes him feel. There is even a joke about the song having to do with Darth Vader “red to green” (the buttons on his chest) and breathe in breathe out. Either way I’m sure that only Gavin Rossdale knows the true meaning behind it all.

Breathe in Breathe out
breathe in

tied to a wheel fingers got to feel
i spin on a whim i slide to the right
i felt you like electric light
for our love
for our fear
for our rise against the years and years and years

got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red
machinehead
got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red machine head

and i walk from my machine
i walk from my machine

deaf dumb and thirsty
starting to deserve this
leaning on my conscience wall
blood is like wine
unconscious all the time
if i had it all again
i’d change it all

got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red
machinehead
got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red

and i walk from my machine
i walk from my machine

breathe in breathe out
breathe in…breathe in…

got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red
machinehead
got a machinehead better than the rest
green to red

Better than the rest
Machinehead

and i walk form my machine
i walk form my machine