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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 guitar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar.
He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
So 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 guitar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar.
He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
So welcome to the Machine.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Track duration: 06:47
"Welcome to the Machine" as written by Roger Waters
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Welcome to the machine could also have said Welcome to the world or something.
The lyrics make sense as if read by a single voice, a person who is very aware of where you came from and what you're going into with an unspoken reason why you're going there. We know where you've been (you're all the same) we told you what to dream (we dangle the carrot).
the scouting for boys is probably a reference to the boy scouts handbook. along with the line that proceeded it implied they did what they were told for a while. The rebellion thing with the guitar probably means they got sick of it and wanted independence - so welcome to the world!
The second verse is talking to their motivation.
i wouldn't be surprised if there was a scrapped third verse, talking about how they either got chewed up, or became part of the clockwork of the machine.
He played a mean guitar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar.
He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
he ? is he imaginary presonality or someone real ?
"You dreamed of a big star"
The kid dreamed of being a star, who was talented, famous, wealthy, etc.
I think the point is that even though being a rebel, being a rockstar, and everything, although it appears as you are fighting out, it is really just another part of the machine. It is just another canned dream.
I think this is also very apparent in the lines
"
And you didn't like school, and you
Know you're nobody's fool,
So welcome to the machine.
"
The rebelion, thinking "I am nobody's fool" is just a process that is part of the machine. Screwed if you do, screwed if you don't. There is no escape.
I'm probably way off basis, but is it military related?
-Provided with toys(guns)
-scouting for boys(recruiting or draft??)
..and all that ties into the machine controlling your life and all that good stuff
Makes sense to me haha. but if anyone else would care to confirm or enlighten me?
"Scouting for boys" = the British way of saying "boy scouts" IE he was a boy scout.. And yet he still wanted to be a guitar player, so "he bought a guitar to punish his ma" get the idea. This is about disillusion with the music industry. Isn't it obvious?