Automation
Allan Sherman · Other Songs - Allan Sherman
(Alan Sherman)
It was automation, I know
That was what was making the factory go
It was IBM
It was Univac
It was all those gears going
Clickity clack, dear
I thought automation was keen
Till you were replaced by a ten-ton machine
It was a computer that tore us apart, dear
Automation broke my heart.
There's an RCA 5-0-3
Standing next to me, dear, where you used to be
Doesn't have your smile
Doesn't have your shape,
Just a bunch of punch cards and light bulbs and tape, dear
You're a girl who's soft, warm and sweet
But you're only human and that's obsolete
Though I'm very fond of that new 5-0-3, dear Automation's not for
me.
It was automation, I'm told That s why I got fired and I'm out in
the cold How could I have known When the 5-0-3
Started in to blink it was winking at me, dear
I thought it was just some mishap
When it sidled over and sat on my lap
But when it said "l love you " and gave me a hug, dear
That's when I pulled out. . . its plug.
Copyright 1963 Curtain Call Productions
tune: Fascination
filename[ AUTOMTN
RG
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About Automation
"Allan Sherman's 'Automation' stands as a defining example of his signature style, blending upbeat pop melodies with satirical lyrics that critique the dehumanizing effects of industrial technology. Released during the height of his career, the track exemplifies Sherman's ability to craft catchy hooks while delivering sharp social commentary on the era's rapid mechanization. The song reflects the broader cultural anxiety of the 1960s regarding the displacement of human labor by machines, a theme Sherman explored across his extensive discography with wit and musical flair. By juxtaposing cheerful instrumentation with cynical verses, 'Automation' captures the tension between progress and personal consequence, cementing Sherman's legacy as a master of pop satire who could make serious observations sound like a radio hit."