Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Weller’s own Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, with co-producer Simon Dine and engineer Charles Rees.
Born John William Weller in Stanley Road, Woking, he was also a central figure in the Mod revival. As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the '80s and Oasis in the '90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Council's career progressed, Weller's interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience — by 1990, he couldn't get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped as a demi-god. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Weller's solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-'90s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically-acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.
Push Button
Paul Weller Lyrics
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Looking at the liquid just a night after night
Chat room hard core looking to find
My wrists are aching, on screen I'm faking
Just a push button, automatic kind of guy
Suffering in an ocean when my body stays dry
Download hard drive here on the live
Every day I am just wasting away
To bring the world much closer
On site, time into the night
Click on, click on, click on
Just a push button, automatic kind of guy
Hiding in a fantasy to keep me alive
Mega-byte, mega-shyte, dot com delight
My card is burning, everything I'm learning
Everyday I am just wasting away
To bring the world much closer
All my life is now online
Click on, click on, click on
I've a push button, automatic kind of life
Suffering in pollution where my body stays dry
Download, sidelines, apathy fries
In segregation, digital relation
My card is burning, everything I'm learning
My fat screen wonder gives me every answer
In a world much closer with so much power
And people weaker, ah
The lyrics to Paul Weller's song "Push Button Automatic" are a commentary on the modern world's obsession with technology and the impact it has on our lives. The singer describes himself as a "push button, automatic kind of guy," who spends his nights staring at a computer screen and chatting in chat rooms. He feels disconnected from the world around him, lost in a world of digital illusions, and disconnected from the real people in his life.
Throughout the song, the lyrics touch on themes of isolation, disconnection, and addiction. The singer speaks about his "card burning," spending all his money and time on technology that keeps him stuck in a digital world. He feels as though he is "wasting away," as his life becomes increasingly consumed by his dependence on technology. In the final verse, the lyrics become darker, painting a picture of a world in which people are becoming weaker and less able to connect with one another on a human level.
In all, "Push Button Automatic" is a warning against the dangers of becoming too reliant on technology, and an invitation to reconnect with the world and people around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a push button, automatic kind of guy
I'm a person who is used to everything being automated and available at the click of a button.
Looking at the liquid just a night after night
I spend my nights drinking and staring at the computer screen.
Chat room hard core looking to find
I spend a lot of time in online chat rooms trying to connect with others.
My wrists are aching, on screen I'm faking
I am experiencing physical pain from typing and pretending to be someone I'm not online.
Suffering in an ocean when my body stays dry
I feel suffocated and overwhelmed by the online world, even though my physical body remains in the real world.
Download hard drive here on the live
I am constantly downloading and consuming content online in real-time.
In segregation, the new creation
The digital world has created a divide between people and created a new type of society.
Every day I am just wasting away
I am spending my days mindlessly scrolling and consuming content online.
To bring the world much closer
I am using technology to connect with people and access information from all over the world.
On site, time into the night
I spend my nights browsing websites and consuming digital media.
Click on, click on, click on
I am constantly clicking and scrolling through the online world.
Hiding in a fantasy to keep me alive
I use the online world as a way to escape reality and find comfort.
Mega-byte, mega-shyte, dot com delight
The online world is both amazing and overwhelming at the same time.
My card is burning, everything I'm learning
I am constantly consuming content and spending money online.
All my life is now online
The majority of my life and experiences are now taking place in the digital world.
I've a push button, automatic kind of life
My life is automated and revolves around technology and the online world.
Download, sidelines, apathy fries
I am constantly downloading content and being distracted by the online world, leading me to become apathetic towards the real world.
In segregation, digital relation
The digital world has created a divide between people and replaced physical relationships with digital ones.
My fat screen wonder gives me every answer
I rely on technology to provide me with all the answers to my questions.
In a world much closer with so much power
Technology has made the world feel smaller and more connected, with people having access to immense amounts of information and power.
And people weaker, ah
People have become more reliant on technology and the online world, making them weaker in many ways.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER, STEVEN DOUGLAS WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind