Programmed to go on
by transport for whales
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about
Far away on a distant planet long since deserted by humans, a lone robot, Pedro, tirelessly carries out his chores keeping everything spotless and in good order. Looking up and imagining who or what else is still out there, he wonders will the humans ever return?
Image in artwork by Michael Hodgkinson.
Image in artwork by Michael Hodgkinson.
lyrics
My name is 42916 but I am better known as Pedro
I only wish to serve, but then I'm hard coded to say so
May be due an upgrade, but I'll patch this software update and reboot
Cos I was built to serve my masters, carry out their mundane chores
To free up time from all the things that make life such a bore
Keep everything pristine, looking flawless, oh so clean, good as new
Cos the lawns won't cut themselves
And the dust gathers on the shelves
Sunrise through sunset
List as long as all of pi's digits, to be done
Yeah the brush won't sweep the floor
And the oil don't grease that door
Without my mechanised assistance
And the if elseif else statements, that I run
And it seems a little futile, now the humans have all gone
But what else left to do, when I am programmed to go on
Well my only frame of reference is the feedback from my sensors
But I guess that's how we all work, we're just wires and transducers
Our mode of operation is a function of our memory
But I'm damned if I know where they went, they were here and now they're gone
And though there's no more humans, I am programmed to go on,
Ticking over just like clockwork, running ship shape, plough ahead full steam
Cos the lawns won't cut themselves
And the dust gathers on the shelves
Sunrise through sunset
List as long as all of pi's digits, to be done
Yeah the coffee pot won't brew
But there's no job I cannot do
With my built in sheer persistence
And the while true loop sequence, I'm stuck on
Oh,
Oh here's what I was wondering
Is there anything that's happening
Way out there
Beyond,
Far beyond what my antennas see
Is there anyone other than me
Somewhere out there
I only wish to serve, but then I'm hard coded to say so
May be due an upgrade, but I'll patch this software update and reboot
Cos I was built to serve my masters, carry out their mundane chores
To free up time from all the things that make life such a bore
Keep everything pristine, looking flawless, oh so clean, good as new
Cos the lawns won't cut themselves
And the dust gathers on the shelves
Sunrise through sunset
List as long as all of pi's digits, to be done
Yeah the brush won't sweep the floor
And the oil don't grease that door
Without my mechanised assistance
And the if elseif else statements, that I run
And it seems a little futile, now the humans have all gone
But what else left to do, when I am programmed to go on
Well my only frame of reference is the feedback from my sensors
But I guess that's how we all work, we're just wires and transducers
Our mode of operation is a function of our memory
But I'm damned if I know where they went, they were here and now they're gone
And though there's no more humans, I am programmed to go on,
Ticking over just like clockwork, running ship shape, plough ahead full steam
Cos the lawns won't cut themselves
And the dust gathers on the shelves
Sunrise through sunset
List as long as all of pi's digits, to be done
Yeah the coffee pot won't brew
But there's no job I cannot do
With my built in sheer persistence
And the while true loop sequence, I'm stuck on
Oh,
Oh here's what I was wondering
Is there anything that's happening
Way out there
Beyond,
Far beyond what my antennas see
Is there anyone other than me
Somewhere out there
credits
released May 22, 2020
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
transport for whales Manchester, UK
Formed in a mist to the south and west of Manchester. Fermented in oak barrels in Cheshire. Stored for a long time and
brought out only when the need is great and the time is right.
That time is now.
Formed circa 2018 from a collection of old college and post-uni friends who like playing Americana kinda stuff.
New single "Programmed to go on" out now.
... more
discography
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May 2020 -
Jan 2020
contact / help
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