Rubber Man
Jonny Cohen Lyrics


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There was a man who could change shape.
Who wasn't happy happy with his place.
He tried to change his face in order to get in good grace.

Don't reach out to Rubberman.
Rubberman is on his way.
Don't reachout to Rubberman.
He is trying to be great.

The Rubberman was the toast of the town.
People loved him when was around.
He knew what to do, he knew what to say.
He was the hero of the day.

Something strange happened to Rubberman.
He froze in the shape of one kind of man.
Then on a day so queer, Rubberman simply disappeared.

The Rubberman was the toast of the town.
People loved him when was around.




He knew what to do, he knew what to say.
He was the hero of the day.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jonny Cohen's song Rubber Man describe the story of a man who has the ability to change shape. Despite this intriguing characteristic, he is not content with his current place in life and seeks to change his appearance to gain acceptance. However, the lyrics warn against attempting to reach out to the Rubberman, as he is on a journey to greatness that he must undertake alone.


The Rubberman is initially seen as a hero of the town, beloved and admired by those around him. He possesses the confidence and charm that allows him to be successful in any situation. However, something unexplainable happens to him and he becomes frozen in the shape of one particular man. This strange transformation leads to his eventual disappearance, leaving behind a sense of mystery and wonder about the Rubberman's fate.


Overall, the lyrics of Rubber Man convey a message about the desire for acceptance, the pursuit of greatness, and the unpredictability of life. The Rubberman's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing oneself in this pursuit and the unknown consequences that may arise.


Line by Line Meaning

There was a man who could change shape.
There once lived a man who had the ability to transform his physical appearance at will.


Who wasn't happy happy with his place.
However, this man was not content with the identity he was born with.


He tried to change his face in order to get in good grace.
As a result, he frequently altered his facial features to gain the approval of those around him.


Don't reach out to Rubberman.
Do not attempt to make contact with Rubberman.


Rubberman is on his way.
He is currently making his way to a destination.


Don't reach out to Rubberman.
It is advised to not approach Rubberman.


He is trying to be great.
His intention is to achieve greatness in some form or fashion.


The Rubberman was the toast of the town.
Rubberman was highly regarded and respected within the community.


People loved him when was around.
People were quite fond of Rubberman and enjoyed his presence.


He knew what to do, he knew what to say.
Rubberman was seen as a wise and capable individual who knew what actions to take and what advice to give in most situations.


He was the hero of the day.
Rubberman was celebrated as a hero due to his impressive abilities and apparent success.


Something strange happened to Rubberman.
An unusual event occurred in Rubberman's life.


He froze in the shape of one kind of man.
Rubberman suddenly became unable to change his physical form, and remained in a single state indefinitely.


Then on a day so queer, Rubberman simply disappeared.
And one day, in a perplexing turn of events, Rubberman vanished without explanation or trace.




Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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