Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: metalcore
Song Meaning of “Charlie Machine” by Outline In Color
‘Charlie Machine’ tells the story of a broken person who is struggling to pick up the pieces of their life. The song emphasizes the theme of wanting to be saved, as the protagonist is desperate for any kind of redemption or salvation. The protagonist looks to the titular ‘Charlie Machine’ as a source of hope, albeit an illusory one. Through the chorus of the song, the protagonist pleads for Charlie to “make me something better than me”.
The title could represent a variety of things, but the main suggestion is that the song is about a self-destructive tendency. The “machine” to which the protagonist addresses their pleas could be a metaphor for the addictions the protagonist is dealing with, as they can’t seem to break their cycle of destruction.
At the same time, the song suggests that the protagonist’s reliance on Charlie may be misguided as they come to the realization that “no matter what I do, it doesn’t do enough to make me feel free”. Consequently, the song sends a message of the importance of facing one’s problems head-on and making personal changes for the better rather than relying on a fictitious saviour.