if I was alive
if I was real
would you survive?
what would you feel?
you're a heavy metal, heavy metal machine
we hope you kept your motor clean
'cause we all need our heavy metal machine

if I was dead
would my record sell?
is it just as well?
we're all bound for hell
you're a heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
we hope you kept your motor clean
welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends

one pill makes you smarter
and the other makes you sick
and the ones your mother gives you
they make you filthy rich
go ask Alice
she needs you so
call Alice
she seems to know

you go chasing mushrooms
in the corners of your mind
tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar
is showing you a fine time
if you're going to ride
don't ride the white horse
if you're going to ride
ride me, of course

logic and proportion
have fallen sloppy dead
and the white knight is talking backwards
and the red queen, she's off with her head
remember what the doorman said
feed your head
feed your head

let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save your wretched soul
let me die for rock and roll
before I do something dumb and out of control
and all the girls kiss the boys at last
and all the world can kiss my ass

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal resurrection machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal machine

not so fast
you didn't think I'd live black
but sometimes you just need some glass
so just sit back and relax

are you ready to die for rock and roll?

Heavy Metal Machine   (normal version)
Heavy Metal Machine   (Version I)

if i were alive
if i were real
would you survive
what would you feel

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
as sentimental as our broken dreams

let me die for rock and roll
let me die to save your soul
let me die, let me die rock and roll
let the world forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the boys at last
let me go, let me go rock and roll

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
we're the metal, in their metal machines
heavy metal, heavy metal machine

if i were dead
would my records sell
could you even tell
is it just as well

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
it's elemental, to all the rust it brings
heavy metal, heavy metal machine

let me die for rock and roll
let me die and save my soul
let me go, let me go rock and roll
let the world forgive the past
let all the girls kiss the boys at last
let me go, let me die rock and roll

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
we're the metal, in their droning schemes
heavy metal, heavy metal machine

will i survive
is it up to me
could you understand
that it's not yours to keep

heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine
heavy metal, heavy metal machine

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th stanzas borrow heavily from Jefferson Airplane's song "White Rabbit". The "White Horse" line is drawn from the song of that name by Laid Back.