The synth pop "new wave" track was produced by legendary producer Richard Perry, who has also produced artists like Barbara Streisand, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Diana Ross.
The success of Automatic co-incided with a commercial peak for the sisters, coming from their highest selling album Break Out (which also contained the hits Jump, I'm So Excited with a later re-released version also featuring Neutron Dance).
Break Out was eventually certified triple platinum in the USA for sales of over 3 million.
Dance artist Ultra Nate had a #1 success on the Billboard Dance Chart with her cover of Automatic during 2007.
Automatic
Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm utterly at your whim
All of my defenses down
Your camera looks through me
With its X-ray vision
And all systems run aground
Is a stream of absurdities
Every word I intended to speak
Winds up locked in the circuitry
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down, down, down
Automatic (automatic)
Automatic (automatic)
What is this madness
That makes my motor run
And my legs too weak to stand
I go from sadness
To exhilaration
Like a robot at your command
My hands perspire and shake like a leaf
Up and down goes my temperature
I summon doctors to get some relief
But they tell me there is no cure
They tell me
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down, down, down
Automatic (automatic)
Automatic (automatic)
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic
Automatic
Look what you're doing to me
I'm utterly at your whim
All of my defenses down
Your camera looks through me
With its X-ray vision
And all systems run aground
All I can manage to push from my lips
Is a stream of absurdities
Every word I intended to speak
Winds up locked in the circuitry
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down, down
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down, down, down
No way to control it
It's totally automatic
Whenever you're around
I'm walking blindfolded
Completely automatic
All of my systems are down
Down, down
The song "Automatic" by Pointer Sisters explores how love can take control and have a powerful impact on a person's emotions and actions. The lyrics describe how the singer is completely vulnerable and powerless when they are around their lover, as their defenses are down and they are "walking blindfolded" like a robot at their command. The metaphor of the camera with its "X-ray vision" symbolizes how the lover sees through the singer and knows their every move and thought, with all systems running aground. Despite the singer's attempts to speak, their words come out as a "stream of absurdities", as they are completely consumed by their intense feelings and unable to control them.
The chorus repeats the idea that there is "no way to control it", as the singer's reactions to their lover are "completely automatic" and their systems are down. The singer experiences a range of emotions, from sadness to exhilaration, as their "motor runs" and their "legs [are] too weak to stand". Despite seeking help from doctors, they are told that there is "no cure" for this automatic response to their lover.
Overall, the song captures the overwhelming and all-consuming nature of love, and how it can render a person powerless in the presence of their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Look what you're doing to me
I am under your control and the effect you have on me is noticeable by others.
I'm utterly at your whim
I am completely submissive to your desires and actions.
All of my defenses down
I have let my guard down in front of you and am completely vulnerable.
Your camera looks through me
Your gaze is so intense and penetrating that I feel like you can see through me.
With its X-ray vision
Your stare is so strong and penetrating that it feels like you have a special ability to see through me.
And all systems run aground
My normal functioning breaks down under your influence.
All I can manage to push from my lips
I am only able to speak nonsense when I am around you.
Is a stream of absurdities
I am unable to communicate clearly and my words don't make sense.
Every word I intended to speak
The thoughts I had before speaking to you are replaced by jumbled words.
Winds up locked in the circuitry
My mind becomes scrambled and I cannot speak coherently as intended.
No way to control it
I am unable to prevent my automatic reaction to you.
It's totally automatic
My response to you is instinctive and beyond my control.
Whenever you're around
My robotic reaction occurs only in your presence.
I'm walking blindfolded
I am following your lead without knowing where you are taking me.
Completely automatic
My behavior in your presence is completely reactive and conditioned.
All of my systems are down
My physical and emotional functioning is impaired when I am around you.
Down, down, down
My condition worsens the longer I am under your influence.
What is this madness
I cannot rationalize or understand my strong reaction to you.
That makes my motor run
There is something that you do that gets me going.
And my legs too weak to stand
My response to you is so powerful that it can manifest itself in physical weakness.
I go from sadness
My emotional state changes drastically in your presence.
To exhilaration
My negative emotions are replaced by intense excitement when I am around you.
Like a robot at your command
I am so controlled by you that I resemble a machine following your orders.
My hands perspire and shake like a leaf
My physical reaction to you is uncontrollable and overwhelming, causing sweating and shaking.
Up and down goes my temperature
My body's temperature fluctuates in response to you.
I summon doctors to get some relief
I seek medical help in an effort to understand and alleviate my automatic reaction to you.
But they tell me there is no cure
The doctors are unable to help me because my reaction to you is beyond scientific explanation.
No way to control it
I am powerless to stop my automatic reaction to you.
Automatic (automatic)
My reaction to you is so ingrained that it is automatic, beyond my conscious control.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brock Patrick Walsh, Mark Goldenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garymiltin5388
I really believe the pointer sisters are long overdue to be inducted into the rock & roll hall of fame
@blackheartbev3098
Only one left too!!!!
@tanyabrown6969
Me too. Surprised to hear that they aren't!!
@MrKevinEaddy
FACTS!!
@5339kimhall
@@MrKevinEaddyYep
@bytesurfer8651
They are not rock & roll
@jonthomas8569
Ruth's deeper voice provided such a nice balance to Anita and June's higher notes. They blended beautifully. I'm glad they made sure Ruth had opportunities to shine out front.
@djames3761
that part
@blaablaa22
perfect.
@jamescalifornia2964
' Neutron Dance ' 👍🎶