Motorcycle Boy
Gutterball
The Tragic Legend of Motorcycle Boy
Gutterball's song 'Motorcycle Boy' paints a vivid and haunting picture of a character whose life is marked by violence, tragedy, and a sense of inevitable doom. The lyrics take the listener on a journey through various locations, each scene depicting a grim event involving the titular Motorcycle Boy. The repetition of the phrase 'lay your legend down' suggests a call for the end of a destructive cycle, urging Motorcycle Boy to rest and cease his tumultuous existence.
The song opens with a reference to a midnight cruise in Abeline, where a violent incident leaves three dead and four wounded. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, highlighting the chaos and destruction that follows Motorcycle Boy. The mention of 'three creeps in Dallas' and 'three dozen roses and three last prayers' further emphasizes the recurring theme of death and mourning. The use of the number three throughout the song could symbolize a pattern or a cycle that Motorcycle Boy is trapped in.
As the song progresses, we encounter other tragic figures like Subway Sammy, who meets a fatal end, and a girl named Virginia, whose story is left ambiguous but equally tragic. The final verse shifts to Oxnard, where surfers waste their days away, perhaps hinting at the futility and aimlessness that pervades Motorcycle Boy's life. The song's narrative structure and its evocative imagery create a sense of inevitability, as if Motorcycle Boy's fate is sealed and his legend is one of sorrow and loss.
Gutterball's musical style, characterized by its raw and gritty sound, complements the dark themes of the song. The band's ability to weave storytelling with powerful instrumentation makes 'Motorcycle Boy' a compelling and thought-provoking piece that lingers in the listener's mind long after the music fades.