This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
A man lives at the corner of the street
And his neighbors think he's helpful and he's sweet
'Cause he never swears and he always shakes you by the hand
But no one knows he really is a plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got plastic heart, plastic teeth and toes
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got plastic knees and a perfect plastic nose
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got plastic lips that hide his plastic teeth and gums
And plastic legs that reach up to his plastic bum
(Plastic bum, plastic bum )
Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don't feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can't disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got plastic flowers growing up the walls
(Yeah, he eats plastic food)
He eats plastic food with a plastic knife and fork
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He likes plastic cups and saucers 'cause they never break
And he likes to lick his gravy off a plastic plate
Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don't feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can't disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got a plastic wife who wears a plastic mac
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
And his children wanna be plastic like their dad
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got a phony smile that makes you think he understands
But no one ever gets the truth from plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
And his neighbors think he's helpful and he's sweet
'Cause he never swears and he always shakes you by the hand
But no one knows he really is a plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got plastic heart, plastic teeth and toes
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got plastic knees and a perfect plastic nose
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got plastic lips that hide his plastic teeth and gums
And plastic legs that reach up to his plastic bum
(Plastic bum, plastic bum )
Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don't feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can't disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got plastic flowers growing up the walls
(Yeah, he eats plastic food)
He eats plastic food with a plastic knife and fork
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He likes plastic cups and saucers 'cause they never break
And he likes to lick his gravy off a plastic plate
Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don't feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can't disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
He's got a plastic wife who wears a plastic mac
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
And his children wanna be plastic like their dad
(Yeah, he's plastic man)
He's got a phony smile that makes you think he understands
But no one ever gets the truth from plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
Plastic man
(Plastic man, plastic man)
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Plastic Man Lyrics as written by Raymond Douglas Davies
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
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Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Love this song... great beat and vibe.
Absolutely fanastic commentary on how fake people really are. how on the surface they seem so genuine but they are really phony, "plastic" people that you really never know for sure. Nothing is really what you see, is it?
This song is great, it always gets me dancing when I'm driving to work in the morning. I never really thought about the meaning I just liked the song, but yeah you'r right Lolabat.
It's funny that now this song has a literal meaning with plastic surgery being so popular. People are actually plastic.
Kinks songs are so timeless because, even though they were written in the '60s, I find myself thinking about the same things now.
Why was the song banned by the BBC on its first release, is it to do with homoerotic undertones that the Kinks were famous with including in their songs? I always thought it was about the gay stereotype because of 'plastic people look the same'.
@Phantas It was apparently because the BBC objected to the use of the word “bum”, meaning “bottom” in the lyric.
Around the time the song was being written, plastics were becoming more and more popular as cheap substitutes for all kinds of traditional products. Plastic was the new faux material, like pleather and most of the things Wal Mart, K-Mart and other big box stores sell. Cheap junk. Plastic people don't think they just follow the lead of others and buy stupid junk because they feel like they have to not because they really need it. Davies is making fun of people like that, perhaps in an attempt to get people to wake up and change their habits. Doesn't seem to have worked... There are more of these bozos around today than in the 60s it seems.
this song really makes me realise how fake people are, ' he cant disfigure or disgrace' they are so thickskinned and narrow minded they wont ever change thier views or opinions. But this is a great song, and really lively.
this song really makes me realise how fake people are, ' he cant disfigure or disgrace' they are so thickskinned and narrow minded they wont ever change thier views or opinions. But this is a great song, and really lively.
'Plastic Man' was - when the song was wrote - a trendy description of an 'artificial and often inferior' person. I think the song is about a man who is physically plastic, - He’s got plastic heart, plastic teeth and toes He’s got plastic knees and a perfect plastic nose He’s got plastic lips that hide his plastic teeth and gums And plastic legs that reach up to his plastic bum -
but also has a plastic personality. - He’s got a phony smile that makes you think he understands But no one ever gets the truth from plastic man.
This song has not dated at all... in this day of mobile phones and texting, ipods and downloading, second life and... well second lives... it seems to be a very current social commentary.