Lyric discussion by ladylizzie 

One of all time greatest songs ever written.

This explanation does no justice to the haunting emotion of the song, but:

In G.N.'s world, (based on a sci-fi book he started writing during adolescence) "Friends" are machines that look like humans. Other machines ("Machmen", I believe) are running the world. But "Friends" are machines that humans can call on to do things for them/ provide services.

Pretty sad when a hired machine is the last thing you've got in this world to love.

@ladylizzie Consider the guy is on the autism spectrum - Asperger. Like me.

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