Behind the Lyrics: Machinehead by Bush
Bush is an English rock band formed in London in 1992. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Gavin Rossdale, drummer Robin Goodridge, bassist Corey Britz, and lead guitarist Chris Traynor. The band released their debut album, “Sixteen Stone,” in 1994, which featured the hit single “Machinehead.” The album was a commercial success, selling over six million copies in the United States and helping to establish Bush as one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bush released several more albums and had several hit singles, including “Glycerine,” “Swallowed,” and “The Chemicals Between Us.” They had a hiatus period between 2002 and 2010, but reunited and released new albums since then.
The lyrics of “Machinehead” by Bush describe a feeling of alienation and inner turmoil. The singer is describing himself as being “tied to a wheel,” a metaphor for feeling trapped in one’s own thoughts and feelings. He references bleeding and pain, describing a “tourniquet smile,” and feeling like he is spinning out of control. He expresses feelings of desperation and a desire for a release from his current state.
The lyrics also reference the passage of time, and the idea that the singer’s experiences and emotions have changed over the years. He sings about wanting to change things if given the chance to do it all again. The singer also mentions a “machinehead” which could be interpreted as a metaphor for his mind, which is better than the rest, but it also could be a metaphor for a tool or a weapon that he needs to use to overcome his inner turmoil.
