Automatic
T-Shirt Lyrics


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Forty minutes after dawn
Any given Saturday
Sprinklers watering the lawns
Runoff rinsing all the dirt away
Keep searching for a great big fat pith metaphor

The sun is inching through the sky
Just like every other day
It cares nothing for time
Just got boxed in at an early age
Tiny robots idling in their tiny robot cars
As the sun gives way to other suns, as stars

Everything's a bore you think it's automatic
Question the reaction when you know it's automatic
Foment interruption to deny the automatic
Reject Automatic

Take a look at what's around
Hear the whisper in the shout
Slow the process down
Increase the in, cut down the out
Look inside and find your ancient aerial

Thoughts flow faster in the night
Wireless running through the stars
But we've felt safer in the light 
Since we claimed that it was ours
We're tightly wound and complicated animals
Meaty computers with fragile, nervous transistors

Everything's a bore you think it's automatic
Question the reaction when you know it's automatic




Foment insurrection to deny the automatic
Reject Automatic

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of T-Shirt's song "Automatic" touch upon themes of monotony, conformity, and the need to break free from automated patterns of thought and behavior. The opening lines create a scene of a typical suburban morning, with sprinklers watering lawns and the runoff cleaning away the dirt. The mention of searching for a "great big fat pith metaphor" suggests a longing for something deeper and more meaningful beneath the surface of mundane routines.


The song then delves into the idea that time and the sun's movement are indifferent to human existence, emphasizing the sense of being trapped or boxed in from an early age. The reference to "tiny robots" in their cars symbolizes the mechanized nature of society and the passive role many people play in their own lives. As the sun sets and stars appear, there is a suggestion of the cyclical nature of life and the potential for change and transformation.


The chorus speaks to the automatic and predictable nature of our reactions and decisions. The repetition of the word "automatic" highlights the frustration and dissatisfaction with this sense of being controlled or predetermined. There is a call to question these automatic responses, to interrupt them, and reject the notion that everything is predetermined.


The second verse explores the idea of slowing down and finding introspection and inner wisdom. The contrasting imagery of thoughts flowing faster in the night while feeling safer in the light suggests a tension between the allure of the unknown and the comfort found in familiarity. The reference to being "tightly wound and complicated animals" implies the complexity of human nature, with its blend of instinct and logic. The line about being "meaty computers with fragile, nervous transistors" reflects the delicate balance between our physical and emotional selves.


Overall, "Automatic" encourages listeners to break free from automatic patterns, question societal norms, and explore their own individuality and authentic reactions.


Line by Line Meaning

Forty minutes after dawn
A time of day when the sun has risen and some time has passed


Any given Saturday
On any ordinary weekend day


Sprinklers watering the lawns
Watering systems providing moisture to the grass


Runoff rinsing all the dirt away
Excess water carrying away dirt and debris


Keep searching for a great big fat pith metaphor
Continuously seeking a significant and meaningful comparison


The sun is inching through the sky
The sun's slow movement across the horizon


Just like every other day
Similar to how it behaves on a daily basis


It cares nothing for time
The sun is not concerned with the passing of time


Just got boxed in at an early age
Restricted and confined from a young age


Tiny robots idling in their tiny robot cars
Small automated machines waiting in their vehicles


As the sun gives way to other suns, as stars
When the sun sets and stars become visible


Everything's a bore you think it's automatic
Perceiving everything as dull and monotonous, assuming it happens automatically


Question the reaction when you know it's automatic
Doubting the response when you are aware it is automatic


Foment interruption to deny the automatic
Inciting disruption to reject things that occur automatically


Reject Automatic
Refusing to accept things that happen without conscious effort


Take a look at what's around
Observing the surroundings


Hear the whisper in the shout
Recognizing the subtle message amidst the louder noise


Slow the process down
Decrease the speed at which something happens


Increase the in, cut down the out
Maximizing input while minimizing output


Look inside and find your ancient aerial
Searching within oneself and discovering the innate connection to the past


Thoughts flow faster in the night
Ideas and reflections occur more rapidly during nighttime


Wireless running through the stars
Communication happening through the vastness of the universe


But we've felt safer in the light
Feeling more secure in the brightness and visibility


Since we claimed that it was ours
After asserting ownership and control


We're tightly wound and complicated animals
We are intricately complex beings


Meaty computers with fragile, nervous transistors
Being human, composed of physical and delicate components


Everything's a bore you think it's automatic
Perceiving everything as dull and monotonous, assuming it happens automatically


Question the reaction when you know it's automatic
Doubting the response when you are aware it is automatic


Foment insurrection to deny the automatic
Stirring up rebellion to reject things that occur automatically


Reject Automatic
Refusing to accept things that happen without conscious effort




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Aaron Tap

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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