Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto Mata o hima de,
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto Himitsu wo shiri tai,
You're wondering who I am, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
Machine or mannequin, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
With parts made in Japan, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
I am the modern man,
I've got a secret I've been hiding under my skin,
My heart is human, my blood is boiling, my brain IBM,
So if you see me acting strangely, don't be surprised,
I'm just a man who needed someone and somewhere to hide,
To keep me alive, just keep me alive,
Somewhere to hide to keep me alive,
I'm not a robot without emotions, I'm not what you see,
I've come to help you with your problems so we can be free,
I'm not a hero, I'm not a savior, forget what you know,
I'm just a man who's circumstances went beyond his control,
Beyond my control, We all need control,
I need control, We all need control, [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/styx/mr_roboto.html ]
I am the modern man, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
Who hides behind a mask, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
So no one else can see, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
My true identity,
Domo arigato, Mr, Roboto,
Domo, Domo,
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo, Domo,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
(Thank you very much oh Mr. Roboto
For doing the jobs that nobody wants to)
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
(And thank you very much oh Mr. Roboto,
For helping me escape just when I needed to)
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
(Thank you thank you thank you)
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
(I wanna thank you)
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
(Please thank you)
The problem's plain to see,
Too much technology,
Machines to save our lives,
Machines de-humanize,
The time has come at last, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
To throw away this mask, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
Now everyone can see, (Secret secret, I've got a secret)
My true identity,
This song was written as part of the 1983 styx rock opera-esque album, kilroy was here. The rock opera, which styx turned into a short film as part of their kilroy was here 1983 tour, was based around the premise of censorship. The plot was that the majority for the musical morality (mmm), led by dr. Righteous (played by jy), outlawed rock and roll on the premise it lead children to become sex fiends and drug addicts. Robert kilroy (played by dennis deyoung) was a rock and roller who was imprisoned for performing rock. Kilroy escapes from the prison by hiding inside the shell of a roboto, supposedly robot servants that keep society running. These robotos are actually brainwashed prisoners and ex-rock and rollers, and kilroy is affected deeply when he assumes the roll of roboto to escape. I suggest borrowing caught in the act - styx live 1983 from netflix and watching it all. It's a great concert, and styx is so great to see on stage!
1984 was near the beginning of the technology revolution, and ibm had just introduced it's first portable pc. Robots were replacing people on assembly lines and science fiction movies like "the terminator" ruled the big screen. I think this song reflects the anxiety and in some cases, fear, that many people felt about the unknown frontier that technology was presenting to their ordinary lives. Of course, i was partying my ass off in 1984 and don't remember too much.
I see a man addicted to drugs that took control of him and he was reaching out for help and some one took the time to help but all the others saw him as just another drug addict with out a life because he was a man with a secret and now is free from his secret and to show the world he is only human