Transformer

I personally think that this song is about having different lifestyles or personalities that come out into the open at different times during one's life.

The personalities obviously represent change and well, transformation of a character in different appearances.

Although there are probably many other interpretations of it, that's just my opinion.

Corrected lyrics:

(Hook) I, I, I, I, I, I Know how to transform I transform I transform Im a transformer I, I, I, I, I, I Know how to transform I transform(I can do it) I transform(I can do it) Im a transformer

Im just being myself Plus I gotta be me too Silly of me to think that I couldnt bring myself to be you Ah but behold there is benevolence Behind this but dont stare though Be careful cause ill kill you With kindness Thats why Im dressed quite neatly cause Its easy And discreetly they seek me And when they reach me they see me Then believe me completely Im a real live wire, I aint lying If its between me and you, I aint dying I can transform, I can transform, I can transform Without even trying wow

(Repeat hook)

Now Im someone else Now someone can be me too Behold the beautiful and bold Everyday I wake up to be new Oh but its simple but they still can't understand why I think I can, I think I can, I think I can or can I Im a microchip off the old block You know not but I was a robot And I sold rock and you would get Fo sho shot with a gold glock, boy I rode Pac

It's something that you wont see again What the hell might as well be a friend I can transform,I can transform, aint no tellin who i'll have to be again

(Repeat hook)

I think this song is about being able to adapt and become whatever the situation calls for.

i'm haven't listened to this song enough to attempt to draw out a meaning, but the bassline is kicking!

Isn't Dangermouse a bit of a nerd? I think this is also a bit of a referance to the old TV show and toys.

"Im a microchip off the old block You know not but I was a robot"

Not saying the whole thing is about that, but I think that's where the insperation comes from...

this song pretty much is just insane. In a good way.

I would try and interpret this, but I really can't. The best I can do is that perhaps its talking about crack dealers in the 80's. the mention of pac, "I used to be a robot" (robots being considered retro) and selling rock, but I don't think either member of gnarls barkley would have such a shallow message in there songs (in comparison to there others at least, which by common consensus are also rather hard to decrypt.)

Anyone know what the pac line is about? Something about drugs, guns, and mindless robots? Props to the old school and Tupac?

I like the opening line with different voice effects doing different transformed identities of cee-lo.

Also, I think there should be a lyric correction in there somewhere:

"I'ma transform, independent of who I have to be again"

I agree with some aforementioned views. Its about how you're not the same person from the beginning to the end of your life. you change and are what you need to be at every point in your life.

at one point in his life (when he was young) he was a dealer and that's who he had to be.

now he is grown, has a family, and he dresses neatly and can "kill you with kindness"

and he doesn't know what he may transform into later:

"aint no tellin who i'll have to be again."

i agree with all of you. this song to means that one can't be pigeon held in one stereotypical view. I'm a black dude with dreads so i can definitely identify with this song. and people should really check out the version they did of this at the abbey road studios. it was sort of acoustic. check it out on youtube.

I always thought it was "never tell me who I have to be again" which would gowith the whole "killing striotypes" theory.

I'm actually also a "black dude with dreads" but because of my own personal ability to transform via understanding social constructs and moving beyond me, only someone who hadn't spoken a word with me would describe me as such.

anyway thats what i took from the song. a rebelion against social norms. But the song following his life sounds totally legitamate too.