Metal Machine is a tribute to heavy metal, written by Joakim Broden "in the bathroom, on toilet paper, with a cardboard beer crate as support."
Most of the song can be broken down line by line as referencing songs by other prominent metal artists.
Lyrics with referenced songs:
I have a phobia
A fear of the dark --- "Fear of the Dark," by Iron Maiden
Afraid to shoot strangers --- "Afraid to Shoot Strangers," by Iron Maiden
The animal talks
Guns scare me shitless
but love gun's my friend --- "Love Gun," by KISS
The sentinel's coming --- "Sentinel," by Judas Priest
But is this the end
Riding on this crazy train --- "Crazy Train," by Ozzy Osbourne
I'm going paranoid --- "Paranoid," by Black Sabbath
Watch me lose my mind
and break the law --- "Breaking the Law," by Judas Priest
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and --- "Two Minutes to Midnight," by Iron Maiden
He's barking at the moon --- "Bark at the Moon," by Ozzy Osbourne
I'm a metal machine
The rainbow in the dark is shining --- "Rainbow in the Dark," by Dio
I'm only metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
I'm a metal machine
The kings of metal ride the sky --- "Kings of Metal," by Manowar
Is this st. anger --- "St. Anger," by Metallica
The ultimate sin --- "The Ultimate Sin," by Ozzy Osbourne
Or have I really
A black knight within --- the Canadian band Black Knight
The gates of Babylon --- "Gates of Babylon," by Rainbow
Are open and wide
Shout at the devil --- "Shout at the Devil," by Motley Crue
There's nowhere to hide
Fighting for the world to keep --- possibly "Fighting the World," by Manowar
The wild child in it's cage --- "Wild Child," by W.A.S.P.
Broke my metal heart --- "Metal Heart," by Accept
Against the wall --- "Balls to the Wall," by Accept
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
I'm only metal machine
the rainbow in the dark is shining
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
Come touch my metal machine
The kings of metal ride the sky
Most of the song can be broken down line by line as referencing songs by other prominent metal artists.
Lyrics with referenced songs:
I have a phobia
A fear of the dark --- "Fear of the Dark," by Iron Maiden
Afraid to shoot strangers --- "Afraid to Shoot Strangers," by Iron Maiden
The animal talks
Guns scare me shitless
but love gun's my friend --- "Love Gun," by KISS
The sentinel's coming --- "Sentinel," by Judas Priest
But is this the end
Riding on this crazy train --- "Crazy Train," by Ozzy Osbourne
I'm going paranoid --- "Paranoid," by Black Sabbath
Watch me lose my mind
and break the law --- "Breaking the Law," by Judas Priest
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and --- "Two Minutes to Midnight," by Iron Maiden
He's barking at the moon --- "Bark at the Moon," by Ozzy Osbourne
I'm a metal machine
The rainbow in the dark is shining --- "Rainbow in the Dark," by Dio
I'm only metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
I'm a metal machine
The kings of metal ride the sky --- "Kings of Metal," by Manowar
Is this st. anger --- "St. Anger," by Metallica
The ultimate sin --- "The Ultimate Sin," by Ozzy Osbourne
Or have I really
A black knight within --- the Canadian band Black Knight
The gates of Babylon --- "Gates of Babylon," by Rainbow
Are open and wide
Shout at the devil --- "Shout at the Devil," by Motley Crue
There's nowhere to hide
Fighting for the world to keep --- possibly "Fighting the World," by Manowar
The wild child in it's cage --- "Wild Child," by W.A.S.P.
Broke my metal heart --- "Metal Heart," by Accept
Against the wall --- "Balls to the Wall," by Accept
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
I'm only metal machine
the rainbow in the dark is shining
I'm a metal machine
It's close to midnight and
He's barking at the moon
Come touch my metal machine
The kings of metal ride the sky