Tubeway Army's main claim to fame is that Gary Webb (aka Gary Numan) first … Read Full Bio ↴Tubeway Army's main claim to fame is that Gary Webb (aka Gary Numan) first came to the public's attention here. The band was formed in London, UK in 1977 by Gary Numan and the late Paul Gardiner. What started as a British punk band would evolve into something quite different. During the recording of their self-titled first album ("Tubeway Army") in 1978, Numan came across a Minimoog synthesizer accidentally left in the studio which would end up being used in several of the album's songs. The change in sound served well for the band as their first album would go on to sell out its small initial pressing despite not charting.

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

Do You Need the Service?
Tubeway Army Lyrics

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Do you need the service?
Do you need to call me daily?
Do you have reasons for calling at all?
Is something on your mind?
Is something wrong? I get the feeling
That you're laughing at my quiet surprise

My silhouette is changing

As I'm aging by your window
And I focus on a light by your face
Call me "the operator"
Making comments, "He's so technical"
Or "I've absolutely nothing to do"

Recycle all my photographs
I'll leave a picture of the queen
And no one has to know I was there
Me, I'm so ashamed
You're all connected to my number
And the conversation's only polite

I'll wear my old grey raincoat
Just in case you're "confidential"
Make up stories like "the screen fades away"
Today it's in a taxi

By the station, and it's raining
And I wonder how they made it before

Overall Meaning

The song "Do You Need the Service" by Tubeway Army is a curious exploration of a relationship that has gone awry. The lyrics are filled with questions directed towards the singer's partner, wondering whether they truly need his service, whether they have any real reasons to call him, or whether there is something wrong with the relationship which is causing them to call out of necessity. The tone of the song is melancholic and introspective, with a feeling of resignation and regret permeating the lyrics.

The singer is particularly sensitive to the way his partner sees him. He is aware that he is perceived as being boring and technical, and he tries to make up stories to make himself seem more interesting. The reference to recycling all his photographs also suggests that he is trying to erase any trace of himself from their lives, as if he is as disposable as a piece of paper. He is self-conscious about his age and the changes in his appearance, symbolized by the changing silhouette, but he is also aware of the passing of time and the inevitability of aging.

The song creates a dreamlike atmosphere, and the repetitive structure of the lyrics reinforces its hypnotic quality. The singer is lost in his thoughts, and he seems to be trying to find his way back to reality. The references to the queen and the taxi create a sense of nostalgia, evoking a time when things were simpler and more straightforward. The song is ultimately a meditation on the fragility of human relationships and the difficulty of communication.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you need the service
Are you in need of my help?

Do you need to call me daily
Do you require constant communication with me?

Do you have reasons for calling at all
Is there a valid motive behind your constant calls?

Is something on your mind?
Are you struggling with something?

Is something wrong? I get the feeling
Do you need someone to talk to?

That you're laughing at my quiet surprise
I feel like you're not taking me seriously

My silhouette is changing
I'm growing older and changing

As I'm aging by your window
As time passes by while you watch

And I focus on a light by your face
I'm trying to read your expressions

Call me `the operator'
Refer to me as someone who helps you out

Making comments "he's so technical"
Describing me as someone with technical expertise