His world is under observation
We monitor his station
Under faces and the places
Where he traces points of view

He picks up scraps of conversation
Radio and radiation
From the dancers and romancers
With the answers, but no clue

He'd love to spend the night in Zion
He's been a long while in Babylon
He'd like a lover's wings to fly on
To a tropic isle of Avalon

His world is under anesthetic
Subdivided and synthetic
His reliance on the giants
In the science of the day

He picks up scraps of information
He's adept at adaptation
'Cause for strangers and arrangers
Constant change is here to stay

He'd love to spend the night in Zion
He's been a long while in Babylon
He'd like a lover's wings to fly on
To a tropic isle of Avalon

He's got a forcefield and a flexible plan
He's got a date with fate in a black Sedan
He plays fast-forward for as long as he can
But he won't need a bed
He's a digital man


Lyrics submitted by shed27

Digital Man Lyrics as written by Neil Elwood Peart Geddy Lee Weinrib

Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Digital Man song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

14 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    In 1983, I heard an interview of vocalist, Geddy Lee. He was asked about the meaning of this song. Geddy explained that during the recording of the album, Signals, a man visited the recording studio, whose job it was to digitize the recordings. If my memory serves me, Geddy mentioned that this guy had absolutely no personality but also seemed extremely confident in his abilities. In other words, I believe Geddy was trying to be nice and not say that the guy was a jerk. During the visit from this digital recording expert, the gentleman was asked if he needed assistance with sleeping arrangements. To this, the man sharply answered that he did not. Notice the lyrics at the conclusion of the song, "but he won't need a bed, because he happens to be a digital man."

    ChesRockwellon July 09, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.