Pink Floyd - Welcome to the Machine?

Question

what is the machine?? without looking up what the story is behind the song...here's the lyrics what do you think the machine is??

Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been.
You've been in the pipeline, filling in time,
provided with toys and Scouting for Boys.
You bought a guitar to punish your ma,
And you didn't like school, and you know you're nobody's fool,
So welcome to the machine.
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
What did you dream? It's alright we told you what to dream.
You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar. He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
So welcome to the machine.

Answer 1

The "machine" is the music business. The lyrics other than "welcome to the machine" are about Syd Barrett and directly relate to him and his adolecence up to creating the Floyd. The WYWH album is directly influenced by Syd and his fall from grace. You might also know that Syd by chance showed up during the WYWH recording seessions with out notice to the band. ERIE!!!!!!





*** Mys sons name is Orion Syd... Orion from the constellation (I love Astronomy as did Syd, you may recall a song called Astronomy Domine..) and Syd for Syd Barrett of course. :)



If you do some research you will see the obvious connection of all the songs from Dark Side of The Moon, WYWH, and The Wall to Syd Barrett.

Answer 2

There's two ways you can look at it.



What most people think, is about the band being controlled by their management, never getting to do what they really want to. They dreamed of being big rock stars:



"You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar, he always ate in the steak bar, he loved to drive his Jaguar."





I see it though, as being said to someone fresh out of highschool or college. All kids in highschool dream of being in a successful band.



"You bought a guitar to punish your ma, and you didn't like school and you know you're nobody's fool."



But they soon realize that they haven't made it into a band, and now must find a job for themselves, just like the millions of other people. Thus, entering "the machine."

Answer 3

The machine, is an Orwellian view of society, government. Like becoming just another brick in the wall. Sort of like selling out just to get the bucks. Trading your dreams for survival. Lots of metaphors for being part of the problem instead of the solution...or not!

Answer 4

It's about the music industry.

BTW, it's called Have a Cigar, not Riding the Gravy Train.

Answer 5

I love that song! My interpretation has always been that it's about the music industry and how bureaucratic and phony it is sometimes, how easy it is for artists to get wrapped up in the sex, drugs, and fame aspects and forget themselves in the process. Pink Floyd has a lot of songs about the industry. Riding the Gravy Train (I think that's the name. I can't think.) is also a good one.

Answer 6

Yeah it is about the music industry and how it is corrupt. Roger very much disliked the music industry.

Answer 7

about syd barrett (original member) who went crazy

Answer 8

i always thought it ment being controlled by the government...or the expectations of what ur suposed to be