Motorcycle Emptiness
Manic Street Preachers · Generation Terrorists 20th Anniversary Edition [2012]
Itemise loathing and feed yourself smiles
Organise your safe tribal war
Hurt maim kill and enslave the ghetto
Each day living out a lie
Life sold cheaply forever, ever, ever
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Life lies a slow suicide
Orthodox dreams and symbolic myths
From feudal serf to spender
This wonderful world of purchase power
Just like lungs sucking on air
Survival's natural as sorrow, sorrow, sorrow
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
All we want from you are the kicks you've given us
All we want from you are the kicks you've given us
All we want from you are the kicks you've given us
All we want from you are the kicks you've given us
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Drive away and it's the same
Everywhere death row, everyone's a victim
Your joys are counterfeit
This happiness corrupt political shit
Living life like a comatose
Ego loaded and swallow, swallow, swallow
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness motorcycle emptiness
Under neon loneliness everlasting nothingness
Motorcycle Emptiness
Motorcycle Emptiness stands as a defining track from the Manic Street Preachers' early catalog, originally appearing on their 1992 debut album, Generation Terrorists. The recording captures the band's signature blend of punk energy and post-punk melancholy, driven by James Dean Bradfield's distinctive guitar work and Nicky Wire's introspective songwriting. Thematically, the song explores the dissonance between the romanticized freedom of the open road and the crushing weight of internal isolation. It remains a staple of their live performances, showcasing the group's ability to merge political commentary with raw emotional vulnerability. As part of their extensive discography, the track exemplifies the Welsh rockers' commitment to lyrical depth and dynamic instrumentation during their formative years.