The isolation of people from one another while driving in their automobiles is used as both an example of, and a metaphor for, the general alienation of human beings from one another by technology and systems of control.
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Story behind the song
I live in Los Angeles, where cars dominate both the landscape and the culture. This song was conceived during a rare moment when my eyes met those of an oncoming driver through our respective armor casings of glass and metal. In that instant, our distancing from one another by our isolating mode of transportation became a metaphor for the general alienation of human beings from one another by technology and systems of control, and our glance at one another from across that divide became the catalyst for acknowledging the immense loss represented by the disintegration of our sense of human community.
Lyrics
Verse
From my machine, I see your machine
From your machine, you see my machine
Through shells of steel and glass, we curse each other as we pass
Through shells of steel and glass, we curse each other as we pass
And when our eyes meet, our machines drive us away
Verse
From my disguise, I see your disguise
From your disguise, you see my disguise
Costumed and cloaked we go, and never let our feelings show
Costumed and cloaked we go, and we never let our feelings show
And when our eyes meet, we don't know what to say
Bridge
I can't read you, so I don't like you
And you don't know me, so you don't want to
The game's no fun, but we keep on playin'
There's no way out 'til we find a way in
Verse
From my uniform, I see your uniform
From your uniform, you see my uniform
Life is a battleground, where we try to hunt each other down
Life is a battleground, where we try to hunt each other down
And when our eyes meet...
Bridge
I can't read you, so I don't like you
And you don't know me, so you don't want to
The game's no fun, but we keep on playin'
There's no way out 'til we find a way in
Verse
From my machine, I see your machine
From your machine, you see my machine
Through shells of steel and glass, we curse each other as we pass
Through shells of steel and glass, we curse each other as we pass
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