Pocket Calculator
Kraftwërk Lyrics

Kraftwerk's Pocket Calculator is a song that explores the use of technology, specifically a pocket calculator, as an instrument in music production. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in control of the creative process, using the calculator to add, subtract, compose, and ultimately control the outcome. The repetition of the refrain "I'm the operator with my pocket calculator" highlights the singer's mastery of the technology and their position as the director of the musical creation. In the second verse, the singer notes that, by pressing a special key, the calculator can even play a melody, further emphasizing the range of creative possibilities that technology offers.

One interpretation of the song is that it comments on the rise of technology and its impact on music production, as well as broader societal implications. The use of the pocket calculator as an instrument suggests that technology has the potential to transform even the most mundane objects into tools of creativity. Additionally, the lyrics may suggest a potential danger in becoming too reliant on technology, as the repeated use of the phrase "I'm the operator with my pocket calculator" could be read as a mechanized assertion of power, calling into question the role of human intervention and creativity in an increasingly automated world.