Welcome to the Machine Lyrics – Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
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Welcome to the Machine Lyrics
(Waters) 7:30
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
Where have you been?
It’s alright we know where you’ve been.
You’ve been in the pipeline, filling in time,
Provided with toys and ‘Scouting for Boys’.
You brought a guitar to punish your ma,
And you didn’t like school, and you
know you’re nobody’s fool,
So welcome to the machine.
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
What did you dream?
It’s alright we told you what to dream.
You dreamed of a big star,
He played a mean gituar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar.
He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
So welcome to the Machine.
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About the Song
“Welcome to the Machine” is the second track on Pink Floyd’s 1975 album “Wish You Were Here.” The song stands as a critique of the music industry and the commodification of artists, featuring a stark, synthesizer-driven soundscape that complements its dystopian lyrical content.
“Welcome to the Machine” is a darkly introspective track that encapsulates Pink Floyd’s disdain for the mechanizations of the music industry. Its foreboding and atmospheric introduction, created by the innovative use of synthesizers by Richard Wright, sets a tone of unease and mechanical coldness, reflecting the song’s thematic focus.
Roger Waters’ lyrics serve as a narrative, painting a picture of an industry that treats artists as cogs in a vast and impersonal machine. The song addresses the loss of innocence and individuality that comes with commercial success, underlined by lines such as “What did you dream? It’s alright, we told you what to dream.”
David Gilmour’s vocals, haunting and distant, weave through the synthesized backdrop, emphasizing the feeling of alienation and entrapment. The sound effects, including the opening and closing of doors and the whirring of gears, further contribute to the song’s immersive quality.
“Welcome to the Machine” stands as a powerful piece within “Wish You Were Here,” echoing the album’s themes of disillusionment and the dehumanizing effects of industry and technology.
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