Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: hardcore
Song Meaning of “Machine” by The Used
The Used’s song ‘Machine’ speaks to the loneliness and powerlessness of a person going through a period of depression. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been stuck in a vicious cycle of sadness and apathy, feeling like an emotionless machine, struggling to break out of the internal prison they have built up around themselves. The chorus conveys that feeling of desperation and utter hopelessness, “I know I’m dying inside, I’m alone and I have to lie”.
The song also speaks to the futile attempts of seeking a release from depression. The line, “My biggest fear is drowning in my own tears” is indicative of the singer’s fear of the hidden emotional turmoil they have to keep hidden from others. The singer feels a profound sense of isolation, surrounded by people and yet completely alone.
The song reveals a feeling of being stuck in a monotonous routine of painful emotions that one cannot escape, “All of my senses wrapped in insecurity.” It conveys a sense of being confined and limited, unable to access or express emotions. The singer is unable to find a way out, as the only thing that comes naturally is the same cycle of despair. The singer conveys a longing for something or someone to break the cycle and offer them a sense of freedom, “How I want, to burn bright and set the night ablaze”.
The song speaks to the difficult struggle of living and battling depression, revealing the despair and loneliness that it can bring. It highlights the feeling of disconnection and lack of control as it relates to mental health, and speaks to the unlikely hope that lies within the darkness.