Men at Work

Released: November 9, 1981

Songwriter: Greg Ham

Producer: Peter McIan

I stay in my room
All alone in the gloom
What need I of light?
Machines they can see in the night
And I feel no pain
Metal heart and a metal brain
But something is wrong
'Cause I still feel that signal coming in so

I stand at your door
I guess I'll wait a moment more
Your hall light comes on
And now my turn to fire upon
But I wheel away
Defer my plight, for another day
To dream of your face
But a video screen takes its place

Hey, oh it's true
I'm a helpless automaton, Make an ultimatum to you
Hey, it's true
Machin'ry in my pocket, I've even got a docket from you

I went to the man, I told him a robot is what I am
But he just smiled, said I was a fractious child
"Distrusted not Rusted" That's why I feel so disgusted
But I know he's wrong, 'cause I haven't felt this way for very long

Hey, it's true
I'm a helpless automaton, make an ultimatum to you
Hey, it's true
Machin'ry in my pocket, I've even got a docket from you
I'm a helpless automaton, make an ultimatum to you
Hey, it's true
Machin'ry in my pocket, I've even got a docket from you
It's true
I'm a helpless automaton, make an ultimatum to you
Hey, it's true
Machin'ry in my pocket, I've even got a docket from you
From you
From you

Formed in 1978 with Colin Hay, Jerry Speiser, and Ron Strykert (Greg Ham and John Rees later joined the band in the early 1980s)

Had their biggest hit in 1981 with “Down Under”

Performed at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia

more tracks from the album

Business as Usual

From the album

Business as Usual (1981)

Men at Work popular songs

Helpless AutomatonMen at Work

Men at Work

Business as Usual