Story Behind The Song
While working in a pizza joint, I suddenly realized that modern employment was just an evolution from slavery. An improvement, no doubt, but still just an evolution along a continuum.
Song Description
A song about how working for the modern employer turns you into an automaton, until you're employer/owner finally decides to discard you. Also plenty of lead guitar in a psychedelic, slow funk, bluesy vein.
| Song Length |
5:51 |
Genre |
Rock - Psychedelic, Rock - Funk |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Outraged, Affable |
Subject |
Conformity, Slavery |
| Similar Artists |
Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1970 - 1979 |
| |
Lyrics
I am not an individual
I'm just a robot representative
My uniform will tell you
All you need to know about me
I'll serve you with a smile
I've got your needs on file
But please don't ever ask me
For my private point of view
Things I don't know might hurt me
My ignorance will not desert me
I'm sacrificin' for my family
So my children can carry on the tradition
And sacrifice for theirs
It goes on and on
On and on
Lately I admit I'm feelin' tired
I drink black coffee to keep me wired
Anything stronger would get me fired
'Cause there watchin' out for me...
In case I slip up.
And I don't wanna slip up
They test me once a week
One step from slavery
I'm just an employee
Strange but I'm so sure that I'm
Smarter than bossman's ever gonna be
One day when they don't need me
I might think about gettin' free
Or take my place in history
As a tool of industry
Livin' in the street