The lyrics of Hawkwind's song Treadmill speak of a sense of detachment and disillusionment with the way society works. The narrator is distant and cold, feeling like they've lived too long and tried too many different ways of living, only to see them all decay. They can't offer any wisdom or insight to those who come after them, as they themselves are still lost and searching. The song paints a picture of the daily grind of modern office life, with workers glued to their computer screens and trapped in a world of constant motion. Even those who have achieved success and wealth, like the lounge lizards in their penthouse flats, may soon find out that it's all a meaningless game that saps their hard-earned pay and leaves them feeling empty. The mirrored shades of the patriarch are a symbol of the societal structure that keeps people trapped in the treadmill of working life. The patriarch represents the ruling class, who benefit from the hard work of others and use their power to maintain the status quo. The workers are caught in this system, unable to escape and doomed to endlessly march towards an uncertain future. Overall, Treadmill is a song that speaks to the sense of alienation and disillusionment that many people feel in modern times. It highlights the ways in which society can be oppressive and limiting, and speaks to the need for change and transformation.
