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NO LIFE 'TIL LEATHER (DEMO TAPE)
Lyrics © 1982 Metallica
No Life 'Til Leather is a rare demo tape that Metallica put together for promotional purposes very early in their history. On this tape, Metallica's early influences, especially Diamond Head, ring loud and clear, both instrumentally and vocally, with Hetfield's voice having a very high pitched tone.
Most of the lyrics for the songs on this demo are nearly, if not exactly, identical to those that eventually made it on their first full release, Kill 'Em All, with two extreme exceptions.
The Mechanics (alternately titled, "The Mechanix") on this demo tape is essentially identical to what later becomes the song Mechanix by Megadeth after Dave Mustaine is kicked out of Metallica and goes on to form that band; however, after Mustaine left, this song's lyrics were re-written to become Metallica's classic The Four Horsemen
Jump In The Fire in this demo tape is also quite different and presents a completely different theme from the final version that Metallica later released.
In both cases, the final versions were vast improvements, lyrically, over these original demo versions. The Mechanics/Mechanix is clever in how it symbolically talks about sexual themes, but nowhere near as cool or as satisfying lyrically as The Four Horsemen. Similarly, this demo version of Jump In The Fire, though it seems like The Mechanics to have a vague sexual theme, really doesn't make alot of sense - especially when compared to the brilliant final version later released on Kill 'Em All.
Metallica's lineup for this demo tape was: James Hetfield - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar; Dave Mustaine - Lead Guitar; Ron McGovney - Bass; Lars Ulrich - Drums. However, apparently by the time the cover for the demo was printed up, McGovney was no longer with the band and Cliff Burton had replaced him; McGovney is not mentioned on the demo tape's cover, and Burton, while mentioned, is noted as not having actually played on the demo.
HIT THE LIGHTS (4:17)
(Hetfield, Ulrich)
No life till leather
We are gonna kick some ass tonight
We got the metal madness
When our fans start screaming it's right
Well alright, yeah
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
- Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
You know our fans are insane
We are gonna blow this place away
with volume higher
Than anything today
The only way, yeah
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
- Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
With all our screaming
We are gonna rip right through your brain
We got the lethal power
It is causing you sweet pain,
Oh sweet pain, yeah
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
- Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
THE MECHANICS (7:08)
(Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine)
Imagine you were at my station
And you brought your motor to me
Your a
burner yeah, a real motor car
You said you wanna get your order filled
You
made me shiver when I put it in
Pumping just won't do, ya know, luckily for
you
- Who'd ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
You made my drive shaft crank
You made my pistons buldge
You made my ball bearings melt from the heat
Oh yeah
We were shifting gears hard when we took off
Pushin hard, all four on the
floor
Then we hit top end ya know it feels so slow
You said you wanna get
your order filled
You made me shiver when I put it in
Pumping just won't
do, ya know, luckily for you
- Who'd ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
You made my drive shaft crank
You made my pistons buldge
You made my ball bearings melt from the heat
Oh yeah
I'm giving you my full service
And ya know it's more than enough
Your
engine sparks my plug, ya know that I'm in love
Imagine you were at my
station
And you brought your motor to me
With all four on the floor, a
view of what's in store
- Who'd ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
You made my drive shaft crank
You made my pistons buldge
You made my ball bearings melt from the heat
Oh yeah
MOTORBREATH (3:03)
(Hetfield)
Living and dying laughing and crying
Once you have seen it you will never be the same
Life in the fast lane is just how it seems
Hard and it is heavy dirty and mean
- Motorbreath
It's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
Don't stop for nothing its full speed or nothing
I am taking down you know whatever is in my way
Getting your kicks as you are shooting the line
Sending the shivers up and down my spine, yeah!
- Motorbreath
It's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
Those people who tell you not to take chances
They are all missing on what life is about
You only live once so take hold of the chance
Don't end up like others the same song and dance
- Motorbreath
Its how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
SEEK AND DESTROY (6:50)
(Hetfield, Ulrich)
Alright
Scanning the scene
In the city tonight
We are looking for you
To start up a fight
There is an evil feeling
In our brains
But it is nothing new
You know it drives us insane
- Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
There is no escape
And that is for sure
This is the end we won't take any more
Say goodbye
To the world you live in
You have always been taking
But now you're giving
- Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Our brains are on fire
With the feeling to kill
And it will not go away
Until our dreams are fulfilled
There is only one thing
On our minds
Don't try running away
`Cause you're the one we will find
- Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
METAL MILITIA (6:06)
(Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine)
Thunder and lightning the gods take revenge
Senseless destruction
Victims of fury are cowardly now
Running for safety
Stabbing the harlot to pay for her sins
Leaving the virgin
Suicide running as if it were free
Ripping and tearing
- On through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Chained and shadowed to be left behind
Nine and one thousand
Metal militia for your sacrifice
Iron clad soldiers
Join or be conquered the law of the land
What will befall you
The metallization of your inner soul
Twisting and turning
- On through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
We are as one as we all are the same
Fighting for one cause
Leather and metal are our uniforms
Protecting what we are
Joining together to take on the world
With our heavy metal
Spreading the message to everyone here
Come let yourself go
- On through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
JUMP IN THE FIRE (4:50)
(Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine)
Sitting in my room with my head in my hands
I just can't seem
to move
I gotta get up, get out, get high
Get back in the groove
There's a job to be done, and I'm the one
You people chose to do it
Now I
tighten my belt, I'm sure you all felt
It's time to get to i
- So come on
Jump in the Fire
So come on
Jump in the Fire
Movin my hips in a circular way
Push forward a bit
Pull your body to my
waist
Feel how good it fits
There's a job to be done, and I'm the one
You people chose to do it
Now
I take off my pants, a 2nd chance to get down
So lets get down to it
- So come on
Jump in the Fire
So come on
Jump in the Fire
Sitting in my room with my head in my hands
Just can't seem to move
I
gotta get up, get out, get high
Get back in the groove
There's a job to be done, and I'm the one
You people chose to do it
Now
I tighten my belt, I'm sure you all felt
It's time to get movin to it
- So come on
Jump in the Fire
So come on
Jump in the Fire
Come on, jump in, yeah!
PHANTOM LORD (4:52)
(Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine)
Sound is ripping through your ears
The deafening sound of metal nears
Your bodies waiting for his whips
The taste of leather on your lips
- Hear the cry of war
Louder than before
With his sword in hand
To control the land
Crushing metal strikes
On this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
Victims falling under chains
You hear them crying dying pains
The fists of terrors breaking through
Now there's nothing you can do
- Hear the cry of war
Louder than before
With his sword in hand
To control the land
Crushing metal strikes
On this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
The leather armies have prevailed
The Phantom Lord has never failed
Smoke is lifting from the ground
The rising volume metal sound
- Hear the cry of war
Louder than before
With his sword in hand
To control the land
Crushing metal strikes
On this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
Fall to your knees
Bow down to the Phantom Lord