The song "Automatic" by Houses reflects on the feelings of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the current state of society. The lyrics convey a sense of detachment and emptiness, suggesting that the future doesn't hold much promise, and everything feels stagnant and repetitive. The opening lines, "Futures coming and I'm feeling strange, Nothing hits me like it should these days, I'm getting low, Can't let it go," express a disconnection from the hope and excitement typically associated with the future. The narrator feels increasingly despondent, unable to let go of their negative emotions. The chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, stating that even though it may feel like the end, it just goes on and on again. The people the narrator encounters are portrayed as being no different from themselves, highlighting a sense of sameness and conformity in society. The lines, "When you're falling to the street, And it feels like magic, You were looking for a voice, In a world of static," depict a longing for something meaningful amidst the chaos and noise of everyday life. The narrator seeks a genuine connection or a guiding influence but finds themselves surrounded by people who are automatic or robotic in their behavior. The lyrics also touch upon society's consumption-driven culture, with the line, "While I kill my culture, Watch it waste away." This can be interpreted as a critique of materialism and the detrimental effects it has on individuality and authentic experiences. The final lines, "Another bleached out, black hole, With nothing to lose, Another paywalled shopping mall, Coming for you," suggest a sense of impending doom. The protagonist sees a bleak future where everything is devoid of meaning, with no escape from the commercialization that engulfs society. Overall, "Automatic" delves into the theme of disillusionment, societal conformity, and the yearning for something genuine in an increasingly artificial world.
