Charli reworked the song in 2010 for inclusion on her major-label debut album, 'True Romance', but it didn't make the final cut. The 2010 final version (produced by Dimitri Tikovoi) includes new production and lyrics.
Machines
Charli XCX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold on to my pillow tight
My dreams will be uninvited by something I don't know
I hear these words in my mind
I don't know who put them there, but they sure ain't mine
Who's inside everyone's brain?
Cause recently everybody's been acting all the same
Who writes the songs?
The machines do
Who rights the wrongs?
The machines do
Who cuts the bonds?
The machines do
How did they get inside my head?
Making me feel so cold and dead
Your thoughts being captured as well
I'm locked in a trance, I'm under the spell
A feel that has moved over me
They're squeezing me tight,
There's never gonna let me breathe
They take my heart and they rip it up
Change it for a broken watch, and now my time is running out
But now I know
Who writes the songs?
The machines do
Who rights the wrongs?
The machines do
Who cuts the bonds?
The machines do
I can feel the tic-tock when I turn my head
I can feel the tic-tock when I lie in bed
I can feel the tic-tock dancing in my brain
I can feel the tic-tock running through my brain
Oh when the tic-tock stops, yeah my body rocks
I close my eyes, I get electric shocks
I feel the metal there in my skin
They're gonna win
I am, I am, I am
I am a machine
I am, I am, I am
I am a machine
You're one of me, I'm one of them
Say goodbye to the world, we're never gonna be the same again
But now I know
Who writes the songs?
The machines do
Who rights the wrongs?
The machines do
Who cuts the bonds?
The machines do
Who rights the wrongs?
The machines do
Who cuts the bonds?
The machines do
Who rights the wrongs?
The machines do
Who cuts the bonds?
The machines do
The lyrics of Charli XCX's "Machines" express feelings of confusion and loss of control, with the singer feeling trapped and manipulated by unknown forces. The lyrics describe a struggle within the singer's mind, with a sense of intrusion and loss of personal agency, as if their thoughts are no longer their own. There's a repeated line about the machines doing things that are traditionally associated with human actions - writing songs, righting wrongs, and cutting bonds. This emphasizes the motif of technology usurping human agency and creativity, and becoming the dominant force in society. The tic-tock motif in the song emphasizes the sense of time running out and the lack of control that the singer feels over their life. The final lines suggest that this sense of alienation and loss of control is spreading, as more and more people are becoming "machines."
This song is a commentary on the role of technology in our lives and the potential dangers of social media and other internet platforms. Charli XCX sings about the machines, using them as a metaphor for the powers that control our thoughts and actions, often without our knowledge. The machines have infiltrated our minds, making us feel isolated, insecure, and powerless. The machines are writing our songs, and controlling our movements, making us feel like mere puppets in their hands.
Line by Line Meaning
I sit up in my room at night
Charli is alone and awake at night
Hold on to my pillow tight
Charli clings to her pillow for comfort
My dreams will be uninvited by something I don't know
Charli is disturbed by unknown sources and cannot control her dreams
I hear these words in my mind
Charli is hearing strange thoughts
I don't know who put them there, but they sure ain't mine
Charli believes that someone or something else is controlling her thoughts
Who's inside everyone's brain?
Charli wonders about the source of these thoughts
Cause recently everybody's been acting all the same
Charli has noticed people acting similarly
Who writes the songs?
Charli questions who is in control of the music industry
The machines do
Charli believes that machines are responsible for the songwriting process
Who rights the wrongs?
Charli questions who is responsible for fixing problems
Who cuts the bonds?
Charli questions who is responsible for breaking free from constraints
How did they get inside my head?
Charli is curious as to how these thoughts have infiltrated her mind
Making me feel so cold and dead
Charli feels numb and lifeless
Your thoughts being captured as well
Charli realizes that others are also being affected
I'm locked in a trance, I'm under the spell
Charli is entranced and cannot break free
A feel that has moved over me
Charli is overwhelmed by a sensation
They're squeezing me tight, there's never gonna let me breathe
Charli feels suffocated and trapped
They take my heart and they rip it up
Charli believes her emotions have been manipulated and destroyed
Change it for a broken watch, and now my time is running out
Charli believes her time is limited and running out
I can feel the tic-tock when I turn my head
Charli is hyper-aware of the passage of time
I can feel the tic-tock when I lie in bed
Charli is continuously reminded of time even when trying to sleep
I can feel the tic-tock dancing in my brain
Charli feels as though time is consuming her thoughts and actions
I can feel the tic-tock running through my brain
Charli is consumed by thoughts of time
Oh when the tic-tock stops, yeah my body rocks
Charli fears what will happen when time eventually runs out
I close my eyes, I get electric shocks
Charli is experiencing intense emotions
I feel the metal there in my skin
Charli feels as though she is becoming more machine-like
They're gonna win
Charli is resigning herself to the idea of being taken over by machines
I am a machine
Charli sees herself as being overtaken by machines
You're one of me, I'm one of them
Charli believes that everyone is becoming machine-like
Say goodbye to the world, we're never gonna be the same again
Charli believes that the world is forever changed by technology
Contributed by Hunter J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
speedpizza2000
MASSI, u're the god we all pray to <3
Vulgar
Next level channel
Giulio Bertolucci
aaaaah this is craaazy, love you
DBTHEPLUG
fye