Do You Need The Service?
Gary Numan / Tubeway Army Lyrics


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Do you need the service?
Do you need to call me daily?
Do you have reasons for calling at all?
Is something on your mind?
Is something wrong? I get the feeling
That you're laughing at my quiet surprise

My silhouette is changing
As I'm aging by your window
And I focus on a light by your face
Call me "the operator"
Making comments, "He's so technical"
Or "I've absolutely nothing to do"

Recycle all my photographs
I'll leave a picture of the queen
And no one has to know I was there
Me, I'm so ashamed
You're all connected to my number
And the conversation's only polite

I'll wear my old grey raincoat
Just in case you're "confidential"
Make up stories like "the screen fades away"
Today it's in a taxi




By the station, and it's raining
And I wonder how they made it before

Overall Meaning

In "Do You Need The Service?" Gary Numan sings about a person who is receiving unwanted phone calls from someone and wonders if the caller is calling out of necessity or if they are just calling for the sake of calling. He questions the caller's motives and wonders if there is something on their mind or if they are just laughing at his surprise. As he ages, his silhouette changes by the window as he contemplates the conversation he has with the caller.


Numan references being called "the operator," an individual who connects phone lines, and how the caller makes comments regarding how "technical" he is. He then asks the caller to recycle his photographs and mentions leaving a picture of the queen, which implies that he is no longer interested in being a part of the conversation. Numan then expresses his shame at being connected to the caller's number and how the conversation is only polite.


The closing lines of the song talk about Numan wearing his gray raincoat, just in case the caller is "confidential," and how he makes up stories like "the screen fades away." He then mentions that the day is rainy and how he's wondering how they all made it before.


Overall, the song speaks to the themes of loneliness, boredom, and unwanted interaction. The singer tries to distance himself from the situation and find different ways to cope with the stress of the conversation, ultimately leading him to contemplate his life thus far.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you need the service
Are you in need of my assistance?


Do you need to call me daily
Is it necessary for you to contact me every day?


Do you have reasons for calling at all
Do you have a specific purpose for calling me?


Is something on your mind?
Are you preoccupied with something troubling?


Is something wrong? I get the feeling
Do you have issues? I sense that there is something not quite right.


That you're laughing at my quiet surprise
You're laughing at my reaction even though it was mild.


My silhouette is changing
I am evolving as a person.


As I'm aging by your window
As I'm growing older while you're observing from afar.


And I focus on a light by your face
My attention is drawn to the glow of your presence.


Call me `the operator'
Refer to me as someone who can offer assistance.


Making comments "he's so technical"
Indicating that I possess a lot of technical know-how.


Or "I've absolutely nothing to do"
Or perhaps I'm not occupied with much.


Recycle all my photographs
Dispose of all my pictures.


I'll leave a picture of the queen
Instead, I'll leave behind an image of royalty.


And no one has to know i was there
It doesn't matter if no one finds out I was present.


Me, I'm so ashamed
As for me, I'm filled with regret.


You're all connected to my number
You all have my contact details.


And the conversation's only polite
Our communication is plain and formal.


I'll wear my old Grey raincoat
I'll don my old raincoat, just in case.


Just in case you're `confidential'
In anticipation that you'll be keen on being elusive.


Make up stories like "the screen fades away"
Fabricate tales such as "the screen is disappearing".


Today it's in a taxi
Today, it's in a cab.


By the station, and it's raining
Next to the station, while it's pouring with rain.


And i wonder how they all made it before
And I ponder about how they all managed without it earlier.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ANTHONY JAMES WEBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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