Iron Horse / Born To Lose

Motörhead's song "Iron Horse / Born To Lose" is a powerful anthem that captures the essence of the biker lifestyle, characterized by freedom, rebellion, and a deep connection to the open road. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a lone rider, a 'tramp' on his 'stallion,' navigating an endless highway. This imagery symbolizes a life without boundaries, where the rider's journey is both a literal and metaphorical escape from societal constraints. The 'iron horse'—a metaphor for the motorcycle—becomes an extension of the rider's identity, representing both his freedom and his fate.

The song delves into themes of living life on the edge, with lines like "He lives his life, he’s living it fast" and "Loaded forever, and ferociously stoned." These lyrics reflect a lifestyle that embraces risk and defies conventional norms. The rider's bond with his motorcycle is almost sacred, as it is described as his 'wife' and his 'life.' This relationship underscores the deep emotional and existential connection between the rider and his machine, suggesting that the motorcycle is not just a mode of transport but a symbol of his very existence.

In the final verse, the song touches on the inevitability of fate with the lines "One day one day, they’ll go for the sun / Together they’ll fly, on the eternal run." This suggests a sense of fatalism, where the rider and his 'brothers' are 'born to lose,' yet they embrace this destiny with a sense of camaraderie and defiance. The recurring theme of the 'iron horse' as both a source of freedom and a harbinger of doom encapsulates the duality of the biker lifestyle—one that is exhilarating yet perilous, liberating yet bound by its own set of rules.