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
Down in the Park
Tubeway Army Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the mach-men meet the machines
And play 'kill-by-numbers'
Down in the park with a friend called five
I was in a car crash
Or was it the war
But I've never been quite the same
Little white lies like I was there
Like it was built in one day
You can watch the humans
Trying to run
Oh look there's a rape machine
I'd go outside if he'd look the other way
You wouldn't believe
The things they do
Down in the park
Where the chant is "death, death, death"
Until the sun cries morning
Down in the park with friends of mine
We are not lovers
We are not romantics
We are here to serve you
A different face but the words never change
The song 'Down in the Park' by Tubeway Army is a dark and haunting track that portrays a futuristic world where humans and machines coexist. In the park, people come to watch the mach-men meet the machines and they are entertained by 'kill-by-numbers,' a game that involves the machines killing people. The lyrics depict the singer, who is with a friend called five, who may be a machine, recalling a traumatic event where he was in a car crash or the war, but since then he hasn't been the same.
The singer tells little white lies about being there and takes his friend to a place called "Zom-Zom's," which seems to be a machine-run establishment where they can watch humans trying to run from the machines, including a 'rape machine' that preys on people. He is afraid to go outside, and if someone looks at him, he'd go into hiding. The chant in the park is "death, death, death," and it continues until the sun rises. The group of friends that are with the singer is neither lovers nor romantics, but they are there to serve the machines, a different face but the same message.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the park
The setting of the song, where the events take place.
Where the mach-men meet the machines
Where humans, reduced to primitive robotic entities, interact with the machines.
And play 'kill-by-numbers'
The mach-men participate in and enjoy violence that is systematic and dehumanizing.
Down in the park with a friend called five
The singer is in the park with someone or something named Five, possibly another mach-man or machine.
I was in a car crash
The singer has likely experienced traumatic events in their past.
Or was it the war
The singer's trauma may be a result of a car crash or some war-related incident.
But I've never been quite the same
The singer's traumatic experiences have had a lasting impact on him.
Little white lies like I was there
The singer may be lying to himself or others about the extent of his experiences or involvement in past events.
Come to 'Zom-Zom's', a place to eat
Zom-Zom's is a restaurant where one can consume sustenance.
Like it was built in one day
Zom-Zom's seems hastily constructed or poorly built, perhaps as a result of being in a dystopian society.
You can watch the humans
The mach-men look down upon the non-robotic humans as if they are beneath them.
Trying to run
The humans are constantly fleeing the mach-men and their violent tendencies.
Oh look there's a rape machine
The singer and/or Five observe a machine used for violating and assaulting humans.
I'd go outside if he'd look the other way
The singer would leave the safety of the park if it were not for the danger outside it presents to him.
You wouldn't believe the things they do
The mach-men are capable of atrocities beyond human comprehension.
Down in the park
Reiteration of the setting of the song.
Where the chant is 'death, death, death'
The mach-men and others in the park chant about or celebrate death.
Until the sun cries morning
The celebrations continue until daylight breaks through, signifying morning.
Down in the park with friends of mine
The singer is in the park accompanied by others who share his experiences but may not be his romantic partners.
We are not lovers
The singer and his companions are not romantically involved with each other.
We are not romantics
The singer and his companions do not have fanciful or sentimental ideas or habits.
We are here to serve you
The singer and his companions exist to fulfill some purpose or provide some sort of service.
A different face but the words never change
The singer and his companions may have different appearances or backgrounds, but they all share in the same experiences and thoughts related to their dystopian society.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gary Anthony James Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pinkfloydandsydbarretttour5569
RIP Ced. What an amazing drummer.
@freedumbfree2055
Gary Numan is so cool, way ahead of his time.
@estate5858
Yesssss!
@user-qd6zn7my8h
In terms of complexity, regarding musical structure organized around pitch, duration of notes, timing, and change of direction creating suspense, momentum, and deep attention grabbing texture, Mr. Numan is the most underrated Pop artist in the last 50 years.
@mjp96
Saw him tonight in Boston. 66 and incredible. Looks and acts 36.
@stevendimmock4791
Wow!! Cedric's drumming on this track is nothing short of amazing. He was worth every penny because of what He could give to a song.
@mariopollano
THE DRUMMER
@fuckamericanidiot
Pleasure Principle is 50% about the drums. Cedric Sharpley was tremendous.
@lunarsabbatical7906
With all the techno Cedric keeps the beat clean and crisp fitting in perfectly with the song
@dynjarren8355
@@fuckamericanidiot He had a great groove and style that made the songs special. His drumming was something I noticed right away because it stood out! He was great!