‘Ace of Spades’ is a song by English heavy metal band Motörhead and the title track to the album Ace of Spades. It was released as a single in October 1980. The song spent 13 weeks in the UK Singles Chart, and originally peaked at number 15 upon its initial release. At the midweek point in January 2016 it reached No. 9 and in the official Friday chart they reached number 13, following the death of frontman Lemmy in December 2015 and subsequent dissolution of the band. It has sold 208,830 digital copies as of January 2016. It reached the top of the UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts on 9 January 2016.
On 6 September 1980, Lemmy was interviewed by Graham Neale on BBC Radio 1's Rock on Saturday show, ‘Bomber’, ‘Ace of Spades’ and ‘Love Me Like a Reptile’ were played. The following month, on 6 and 20 October, the band played the song on BBC TV show Top of the Pops.
The song – which "put a choke on the British music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed" – is considered the definitive Motörhead anthem, albeit not by Lemmy. "I don't see the song that way at all," he said in 2000. "I believe we've done our best work since Eddie left the band in 1982." In March 2005, Q placed it at No. 27 in a list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, stating, "This song has an intro which wouldn't be out of place ushering in the end of the world." In 2009, it was named the tenth greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.
Initially issued as a 7" vinyl single in October 1980, as a preview to the album Ace of Spades and autumn tour, the song was also released as a 12" vinyl pressing in special Christmas picture sleeves, limited to 50,000 copies. The picture of the band in Santa outfits used on the cover was taken at the Aylesbury Fair, while the band were on tour. t was ranked No. 442 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time". The same magazine also ranked the song number three on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs. Many fans remember the band’s performance of ‘Ace of Spades’ on the British comedy ‘The Young Ones’ in the show’s living room, during the ‘Bambi’ episode in 1984.
Label – Bronze
Songwriters – Eddie Clarke, Lemmy, Phil Taylor
Producer – Vic Maile
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
You win some, lose some, it's all the same to me
The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
[Chorus]
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
[Verse 2]
Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil
Going with the flow, it's all a game to me
Seven or Eleven, snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit, double stake or split
[Chorus]
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
[Bridge]
You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby, I don't wanna live forever
And don't forget the joker!
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Pushing up the ante, I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be
[Chorus]
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades