The release of their second album "Replicas" in 1979 finally gave Numan the success he had been trying to achieve from the start with the single "Are Friends Electric?", the song topping the British charts for four weeks. The band's cold electronic take on minimalistic pop took a little while to catch on with the music audience at large, but proved to be of lasting influence. Combining the artistic and poetic tendencies of David Bowie (especially the Berlin years) with sequenced synthesizers along the lines of Kraftwerk presaged the whole genre of techno-pop in the 1980s.
In late 1979, after the success of "Replicas", Numan dropped Tubeway Army and went on to record as a solo artist.
It's also worthy of note that during 1979, while his band "Ultravox" were on hiatus, Billy Currie collaborated with Gary on material for both "Replicas" and Gary's first solo album "The Pleasure Principle".
The official website can be found here: www.garynuman.co.uk
Cars
Tubeway Army Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live in cars.
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door in cars
Here in my car
You know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right in cars.
The lyrics to Tubeway Army's "Cars" explore the idea of isolation and the feeling of security that comes from being enclosed in a car. In the first verse, the singer emphasizes how being in a car allows them to feel safer than anywhere else, as they can lock all the doors around them. This emphasis on the physical barrier of the car as a means of protection plays into the idea that humans tend to isolate themselves from others as a way of ensuring their own safety.
The second verse explores the limits of this isolation, as the singer acknowledges they can only receive communication from the outside world, rather than actively participating in it. However, this sense of receiving information and being connected to something outside of themselves is what keeps them stable for days.
The third verse introduces the idea of vulnerability, as the image of the car, which has been portrayed as the epitome of protection, begins to break down. The singer asks for someone to visit them, but the line "if I open my door" implies a certain level of hesitation and insecurity.
The final verse is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer considers leaving the safety of the car entirely, without any clear destination or plan. The fact that "nothing seems right" suggests a deep feeling of disillusionment and suggests that even the safety of the car has begun to feel oppressive or untenable. The song ultimately acts as a commentary on the human tendency to isolate and protect oneself, and the limits of this approach to life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in my car
The singer is emphasizing the setting in which he feels most comfortable and secure, his car.
I feel safest of all
Being in his car is his ultimate safety net, so he feels most comfortable there.
I can lock all my doors
Being able to lock himself in his car is the only way he can ensure no harm comes his way.
It's the only way to live in cars.
This is the best way for him to coexist with his car, feeling secure while in it.
Here in my car
The car is more than just a mode of transportation; it's his sanctuary.
I can only receive
Rather than being able to give or contribute, he can only take in information and music.
I can listen to you
The car is a perfect environment to actively listen and process audio.
It keeps me stable for days in cars.
Listening to something that is familiar and comforting (like a favorite album or playlist) while in his car can bring a sense of stability and control.
Here in my car
The car is still the focal point of his attention, but the previous sense of security is starting to dissipate.
Where the image breaks down
His perception of his car has been shattered and he is starting to see it in a new light.
Will you visit me please
Can someone help him achieve the previous sense of sanctuary in his car once again?
If I open my door in cars
He's willing to take the risk of opening himself up in hopes of regaining his comfort around his car.
You know I've started to think
The singer is going through a major shift in perspective regarding his car.
About leaving tonight
He's considering a drastic change of scenery.
Although nothing seems right in cars.
Even though he's realized his car doesn't give him as much comfort as before, he doesn't see a better option.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ANTHONY JAMES WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pride317
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars
(Synthesizer)
[Verse 2]
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door
In cars?
Here in my car
I know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars
[Instrumental]
@Aerialgrrl
I think it's hilarious that Gary Numan is two weeks older than Gary Oldman.
@WhenToastersAttack
This is a very underrated fact.
@xunder3
If not for Freddie Mercury, you'd be my queen.
@Zizzyyzz
Took me a little while, but I see what you did there.
@johnjones5754
With the amount of likes and comments this main comment has got. Were all still here 2020
@jamesalexander5623
Brilliant!
@futurecenterofficial
People in 1980: This makes me want to be in the 2020’s
People in 2020: This makes me want to go back to the 80’s
@SethAshcraft
lol
@theodoreritola7641
It was number 1 in the UK IN 1979 ,,,
@futurecenterofficial
@@theodoreritola7641 that's great