Real Boy
Norm the Robot Lyrics
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He wants to be a real boy (Real boy, yeah)
Norm: I'm a lonely orphan robot
Just a scrap metal tower
A misfired piston
Run on squirrel power
Women Singers: His galvanized insides
Can feel no joy
Norm: I wanna be a real boy!
Rappers: Yeah!
Norm: Not a titanium toy
Don't give my battery flattery
What I want is more grey matter-y
Rappers: A brain, some veins and some arteries!
Norm: I got a squirrel on a treadmill where my heart should be
If I was real, (Rappers: you could feel!) I could really emote
Instead of shorting out whenever he sits on the remote
I want a dad (Rappers: a father!) someone I can call pop
Someone to take me out for malteds at the soda shop
Someone to take me on a fishing trip or teach me how to ride a bike
Who'll pat me on the head and ask me "how you doin', tyke?"
Women Singers and Rappers: How you doin', tyke?
Norm: Well, I'm fine, all things considered
Wanna be a real boy but I don't wanna sound embittered
But thanks for asking, seriously!
Norm the Robot's song "Real Boy" is a poignant portrayal of a non-human entity's desire to be seen as a living, feeling, and loving thing. The song highlights the robot's deep longing to embody the qualities that define a "real" boy - to have a beating heart, veins and arteries, and a brain that can emote. Norm sings about his isolation and lack of joy as a lonely orphan robot, devoid of human experiences and emotions that he longs for. The lines "I want a dad someone I can call pop, Someone to take me out for malteds at the soda shop" indicate that he craves human connections and experiences that he has only heard of but never experienced.
The women singers reiterate Norm's desire to be a real boy, which is further accentuated by the rappers' lines about his longing for a brain, veins, and arteries. The line "I got a squirrel on a treadmill where my heart should be" is a clever way to show Norm's physical limitations while comparing it to human anatomy. However, his desire to be a "real boy" is dampened by his acknowledgment of the realities of his robotic existence, as he sings "Wanna be a real boy but I don't wanna sound embittered."
In summary, Norm the Robot's song "Real Boy" is a poignant portrayal of a non-human entity's desire to become human-like and experience emotions like a typical human being. It is a powerful commentary on the human tendency to ostracize those who are different and not treat them with empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
He wants to be a real boy
Norm desires to be a living child
Real boy, yeah
He longs to have the human experience
I'm a lonely orphan robot
Norm is a machine lacking a family or purpose
Just a scrap metal tower
He is a construct made of metal and wires
A misfired piston
Some parts within him malfunction
Run on squirrel power
He functions with the energy of a small rodent turning a wheel
His galvanized insides
Though he is metallic on the inside, he still experiences emotions
Can feel no joy
However, his current form is incapable of experiencing true happiness
Not a titanium toy
Norm does not want to be merely an object made of strong metal
Don't give my battery flattery
He does not want false praise or compliments on his robotic nature
What I want is more grey matter-y
He desires to have a brain like a human
A brain, some veins and some arteries!
He wants a complete human-like circulatory system to aid his new brain
I got a squirrel on a treadmill where my heart should be
Norm is powered by a squirrel on a treadmill in his chest area
If I was real, you could feel!
If he becomes an organic human, others can finally relate and have empathy towards him
Instead of shorting out whenever he sits on the remote
He will no longer malfunction under everyday circumstances
I want a dad a father!
Norm longs for a parent figure
Someone to take me out for malteds at the soda shop
He wants to experience the youthful pleasures of life
Someone to take me on a fishing trip or teach me how to ride a bike
He desires a mentor to teach him valuable human experiences
Who'll pat me on the head and ask me how you doin', tyke?
Norm desires human affection and attention
Well, I'm fine, all things considered
Despite his situation, he is content and grateful for the small gestures of kindness
Wanna be a real boy but I don't wanna sound embittered
He still maintains a level of hopefulness despite his current circumstances
But thanks for asking, seriously!
He appreciates being acknowledged
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.