You've been acting awful tough lately
Smoking a lot of cigarettes lately
But inside, you're just a little baby
Oh
It's okay to say you got a weak spot
You don't always have to be on top
Better to be hated than love, love, loved for what you're not

You're vulnerable
You're vulnerable

You are not a robot
You're loveable, so loveable
But you're just troubled

Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot

You've been hanging with the unloved kids
Who you never really liked and you never trusted
But you are so magnetic, pick up all the pins
Never committing to anything
You don't pick up the phone when it ring, ring, rings
Don't be so pathetic, just open up and sing

I'm vulnerable
I'm vulnerable
I am not a robot
You're loveable, so loveable
But you're just troubled

Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot

Can you teach me how to feel real?
Can you turn my power off?
Well, let the drum beat drop

Guess what?
I am not a robot
Guess what?
I am not a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot
Guess what?
I'm not a robot, a robot

Overall Meaning

The song "I Am Not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds is a ballad that is about feeling vulnerable and being able to admit it, rather than putting up a tough exterior. The opening lines describe how the person being addressed has been acting "awful tough lately" and smoking cigarettes, but beneath it all, they are just a vulnerable "little baby." The chorus emphasizes that it's okay to have a "weak spot" and to be hated for who you are, rather than pretending to be someone you're not. The song also talks about being magnetic and picking up all the pins, but not committing to anything or answering the phone when it rings. The singer admits that she too is vulnerable and asks for someone to teach her how to "feel real."

The theme of the song is that it's okay to be vulnerable and that vulnerability is what makes us human. It's important to acknowledge our weaknesses and not pretend to be something we're not just because we want people to like us. The "robot" theme highlights the idea that we can't constantly be impenetrable and unfeeling because we are human, not robots. The message is empowering and encourages people to be themselves, not just what they think others want them to be.

Line by Line Meaning

You've been acting awful tough lately
You've been pretending to be strong and fearless recently

Smoking a lot of cigarettes lately
You've been using cigarettes to cope with your emotions

But inside, you're just a little baby
Deep down, you're vulnerable and in need of care and protection

It's okay to say you got a weak spot
It's okay to admit that you're not perfect and have weaknesses

You don't always have to be on top
You don't have to constantly strive for success and dominance

Better to be hated than love, love, loved for what you're not
It's better to be disliked for who you truly are than to be loved for a false persona

You're vulnerable
You are susceptible to emotional harm

You are not a robot
You are a human with feelings and imperfections

You're loveable, so loveable
You deserve to be loved, even with your flaws

But you're just troubled
You are struggling with some sort of emotional distress

You've been hanging with the unloved kids
You've been associating with people who are also struggling with low self-esteem and emotional pain

Who you never really liked and you never trusted
You don't genuinely enjoy the company of these people and you don't fully trust them

But you are so magnetic, pick up all the pins
Your personality is so attractive and captivating, even to those you don't fully trust

Never committing to anything
You are hesitant to fully engage in anything, emotionally or otherwise

You don't pick up the phone when it ring, ring, rings
You avoid dealing with difficult or uncomfortable situations

Don't be so pathetic, just open up and sing
Don't be afraid to show your true emotions and express yourself

Can you teach me how to feel real?
Can you help me escape my emotional numbness and experience true emotions?

Can you turn my power off?
Can you help me turn off my emotional detachment and tendency to shut down?

Well, let the drum beat drop
Let the music and rhythm take over and push you to express yourself

I am not a robot
I am not a machine, I am a human with emotions

Guess what?
Do you know what?

I'm not a robot, a robot
I am not an emotionless being, I am capable of feeling

Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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