Man And Machine

Album: Lionheart (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a song about the ill-fated Donald Campbell. "We watched him die on TV" said Biff Byford in his memoir Never Surrender....

    The Saxon frontman was 11 days short of his 16th birthday when on January 4, 1967 - 19 years to the day before the death of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott - Campbell set out to break the water speed record in Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water. His father Sir Malcolm Campbell had set the world record on the same lake on August 19, 1939 when he achieved the somewhat modest speed of 141.74mph. His son sought to more than double that, indeed between them the two men held a staggering 21 world speed records, the last being Donald's 403.1mph on land in July 1964. As might be expected, his final attempt - on water - was monitored by the media, including filming the actual crash; the vehicle broke up. His body was not recovered until May 2001.
  • Running to 3 minutes 28 seconds, group composition "Man And Machine" is Track 2 on the 2004 Lionheart album. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.