Gary Numan

The Life Machine

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The Life Machine Lyrics

Me I’ve just died
But some machine keeps on humming
I’m just an extra piece of dead meat to keep running
Why won’t you let me die in peace?
Why won’t you let me die with some kind of honour?
Why won’t you let me die at all?
I know
You’ve got your principles

My body lies immobile
I left it days ago
And me I watch from somewhere as the loved ones come and go
I see them glancing at the switch
I hear them whispering maybe it’s better that way
I see the love turn into feelings
I know
Aren’t quite the same

I see the men of learning
Pacing to and fro
But how can I expect the sane to ever know?
I’d rather die than have no mind
I know my brain is gone damaged beyond repair
I see an empty shell below me
I know
I’ve had my time

Submitted by

[inactive Account] On Apr 17, 2004

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[inactive account]

Submitter

2004-04-17 16:47:19

2 Meanings

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by PeluCrespins

8y ago

Intriguing lyrics and with different interpretations from this great artist, shows great maturity from his early period, in my opinion, it is about someone who feels alienated by the power of mass producution and controlled by machines, even if he's dead, the machines will still be running, human feelings may seem to be omitted by the inanimated machines, I'd rather die that had no mind (no mind like machines), this song could fit so well with the Industrial Revolution times.

My Interpretation

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by MrLongrove

21y ago

Great lyrics. Probably my favorite song off of the debut album. It's about a man hooked to a life support machine but wants to die.

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