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I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes
And
I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot
And by foot it's a slow climb
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time
I noticed that my opponent is always on the go
And won't go slow so as not to focus, and I notice
He'll hitch a ride with any guide
As long as they go fast from whence he came
But he's no good at being uncomfortable, so
He can't stop staying exactly the same
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
I seem to you to seek a new disaster every day
You deem me doomed to clean my view
And be at peace and lay
I mean to prove I mean to move in my own way
And say I've been getting along
For long before you came into the play
I am the baby of the family, it happens
So
Everybody cares
And wear the sheep's clothes while they chaperone
Curious, you're looking down your nose at me
While you appease
Courteous to try and help
But let me set your mind at ease
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
Do I so worry you?
No need to hurry to my side
That's very kind
But it's to no avail
I don't want the veil of flowers, no
Everything will be just fine
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
And
I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot
And by foot it's a slow climb
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time
I noticed that my opponent is always on the go
And won't go slow so as not to focus, and I notice
He'll hitch a ride with any guide
As long as they go fast from whence he came
But he's no good at being uncomfortable, so
He can't stop staying exactly the same
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
I seem to you to seek a new disaster every day
You deem me doomed to clean my view
And be at peace and lay
I mean to prove I mean to move in my own way
And say I've been getting along
For long before you came into the play
I am the baby of the family, it happens
So
Everybody cares
And wear the sheep's clothes while they chaperone
Curious, you're looking down your nose at me
While you appease
Courteous to try and help
But let me set your mind at ease
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
Do I so worry you?
No need to hurry to my side
That's very kind
But it's to no avail
I don't want the veil of flowers, no
Everything will be just fine
If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
Lyrics submitted by Eggos=yum
Track duration: 03:44
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_____
My rather psychoanalytical deconstruction of Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple. She's basically saying:
I'm a dignified individual: worthy of proper value. If you decide not to treat me with dignity and respect, then oh well, thats your prerogative. You can judge me as snobby as you wish. I'm doing my own thing. "Be kind to me" or be "mean", its ok, I'll remain peaceful because I am human, and I'll be just fine.
"If there was a better way to go..." per your judgement as you "seek to find a new disaster [flaw] everyday" - well, regardless,I do things as I find them practical and logical to be done in my own way as its laid in its unique path or "road that rolls out behind me".
_______
Kudos Ms. Apple!
on another but deeper level...the human body is often called, in anatomy and phys. class/medical community,"an extraordinary machine." a picture of the de vinci drawing Vitruvian Man comes to mind.
add that to picture to these lyics
Be kind to me
Or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it
I'm an extraordinary machine
i get the sense that with a bitting wit, the writer almost enjoys the contrast of being treated mean and with kindness. as if somewhere within pleasure and pain she knows there is growth and finds herself.
for me, it is that way. experiencing pain sucks, but in the end being pushed to the limit will define you...
sort masochistic.
You deem me doomed to clean my view
And be at peace and lay
I mean to prove I mean to move in my own way
And say I've been getting along
For long before you came into the play''
like destined to fail, but doomed to be happy.
bah. story of like...everyones life.
this woman makes my flesh crawl in the best of ways.
All in all, we are simply machines incidentally in our bodies. Isn't the better way just the only way, why Fiona would always leave it behind? Furthermore, pain is simply an added state of mind (which is how we understand it), but our bodies send us those messages - as a machine would. In such a machine-world, how miraculous is it that we can create differences between pain and pleasure, between loved ones and hated ones! But between skin colors? There are smart differences and stupid ones. There are times to change and not opt for the quicker way.
I thought the second verse was:
I noticed that my opponent is always on the go
And won't go slow so as not to focus, and I notice
*Yeah, I'll try with any guy"
As long as they go fast from whence he came
But he's no good at being uncomfortable, so
He can't stop staying exactly the same
and I thought the bridge was:
Do I so worry you?
You need to hurry to my side? That's very kind.
But it's to no avail, I don't want the feel of falling
So, everything will be just fine.
So my interpretation was that she had kind of dated around and just never found anyone who could keep up with her, and her family was pressuring her into settling down. And she doesn't like "the feel of falling" and the lack of control of falling in love, but she'll be fine.
And wear the sheep's clothes while they chaperone
Curious you're looking down your nose at me while you appease
Courteous to try and help but let me set your mind at ease......if there were________.
in my bias opinion she's asking why are all these hippocrites telling me how i should do things? when they are the ones who are so insecure that preach to me as if they know for themselves.
self righteous bastards = skum of the earth.
Extraordinary machine isss...it is one of those kind of pep talks to..to myself, that some of my songs start out being, and it also is -uh- kind of the version of the letters that I used to write to my parents when I was really young, when I used to fight with my parents -or any adults really!- I can remember just feeling never..constantly like I wasn't being listened to! (deep breath) Lots of yelling or lots of "Hey, you're just 11, you're just 12. What do you know?!"
And I--And I would just give up during a fight, stomp into my room, write a-either, you know sometimes I'd write a song, but like..way early I would write letters >_< I would write letters to my parents, sooo that I could walk back out and..and hand them these letters and b...be assured that I'd be listened to! Reading my letter, and...and they'd know how I felt about just...just everything I cared about, just .."I want you to KNOW how I feel! Acknowledge me!"
And um..this song, "Extraordinary Machine," is a letter I have written to ...many people who are in my life, who are very close to me, but who...piss me off to no end when-they-worry-about-me! Because there were times when I, you know, I wasn't writing songs...when I wasn't, you know, going out alot, when I seemed to be -you know, in trouble in any way. Which is my pet peev in life when -youknow-..."Sigh...whats wrong with Fi-on-ahh?" Well..I just don't like the feeling when...you know...that people are worried about me it makes me feel worried about myself! So I had a bunch of people who thought that I was going through hell in a hand basket - I've never used that term before, I think its weird when that happens! (giggles)..but um! Um...but I ...I wanted to write a song to tell all my friends and family to shut up. Because I'm always okay!
Do I so worry you?
You need to hurry to my side? It's very kind.
But it's to no avail, and I don't want the bail
I promise you, everything will be just fine.
I love how this song is so upbeat, it's a promise that she's going to be fine, a nice preface for the rest of the album which is emotionally wrenching.