The Answer
I Robot Lyrics

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Am I Alive? I look the part but I'm dead inside.
I will not accept. I cannot forget. Condemed.
I am not alive. Now you see that I'm dead inside.
What I say is not what I feel. I miss your misery.
This chill I get is a constant reminder that I can't change a thing and that is the horror that I must learn to live with.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to I Robot's song "The Answer" delve into the theme of existentialism and the concept of being alive versus simply existing. The first line, "Am I Alive? I look the part but I'm dead inside," highlights the dichotomy between physical appearance and emotional state. The singer acknowledges that they may appear alive to outsiders, but on the inside they feel hollow and lacking in true vitality. The following lines speak to feelings of helplessness and being trapped in one's own head, unable to escape one's own thoughts and emotions. The phrase "condemned" feels particularly powerful in this context, emphasizing a sense of being trapped or fated to one's own struggles.

The last few lines speak to a sense of hopelessness and regret. The singer laments that their words and deeds do not truly reflect their internal state. They even express a sense of longing for their own misery, suggesting that it might be more palatable than the limbo in which they currently exist. The final line, "that is the horror that I must learn to live with," brings the song to a haunting close, emphasizing a sense of inescapability and resignation.

Line by Line Meaning

Am I Alive? I look the part but I'm dead inside.
Although I may appear to be alive, in reality I feel empty and lifeless inside.

I will not accept. I cannot forget. Condemed.
Despite my attempts to move on, I can't escape the feelings of guilt and shame that haunt me. I feel trapped and hopeless.

I am not alive. Now you see that I'm dead inside.
I may have been going through the motions of life, but now it's obvious that I am emotionally disconnected and numb.

What I say is not what I feel. I miss your misery.
Even though I may act like everything is fine, internally I am struggling with my own pain and sadness. In some twisted way, I even miss feeling that way.

This chill I get is a constant reminder that I can't change a thing and that is the horror that I must learn to live with.
I am constantly haunted by a feeling of helplessness and regret, knowing that I cannot undo the past. This knowledge is a constant source of fear and anxiety that I must try to come to terms with.

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

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