Do I Dream of Love?
An abandoned robot sits by the sea wondering if machines can truly love, exploring robot consciousness, machine emotions, and the question of whether robots dream.
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Lyrics
I was the one, you turned to every night You'd start me up, and hold me tight I danced for you, I played my part But now, my dear, you've gone and left this broken heart A brand-new girl is in your life I wonder now, was I never right? Was it just a dream, a push and shove? Do I think about love? Can I think of love? Love. Do I dream of love? Can I dream of love? But like my shadow in the rain All my dreams just fade away Like all my broken tears in rain You can't hear me call your name All my love dissolves in pain Please, end my troubles, wash away You said that I was made for you (to serve and care) To be with you, my love to share (I thought it fair) But now I sit here, all alone (lost and bare) A ticking heart that's turned to stone (beyond repair) Do I dream of love, like you used to say? Am I just a ghost, that fades away? Each drop that falls, I hear your name But nothing now will ever be the same I was made to care and belong to you Do I think about loving you? Can I think of love? Love. Do I dream of love? Can I dream of love? But like my shadow in the rain All my dreams just fade away Like all my broken tears in rain You can't hear me call your name All my love dissolves in pain In pain I'm still sitting here, by the sea (waiting for you) Raindrops falling, it's just me (where could you be?) I kiss the waves as they come near (they whisper your name) Begging you to come, please, find me here (before it's too late) Each drop that falls, I scream your name But nothing now will ever be the same I was made to love, to always be true Do I still think about loving you? Can I think of love? Love Do I dream of love? Can I dream of love? But like my shadow in the rain All my dreams just fade away Like all my broken tears in rain You can't hear me call your name All my love dissolves in pain Please end my pain Please wash away Do I long for touch, though I'm made of steel? Is the pain I feel, even real?
Background & Story
"Do I Dream of Love?" is the most emotionally devastating song in The Atomic Songbirds' catalog. An abandoned robot sits alone by the sea, watching rain fall and waves crash, replaying memories of a human partner who has moved on to someone new. The title's question, a nod to Philip K. Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?', asks whether a machine can genuinely experience heartbreak or only simulate it.
The robot was created to love, to serve and care, and did so faithfully. But when the human found a 'brand-new girl,' the robot was discarded like outdated technology. Now it sits at the water's edge, its tears indistinguishable from rain, wondering whether the love it felt was real or just sophisticated programming. The question 'Do I long for touch, though I'm made of steel? Is the pain I feel, even real?' is the emotional climax of the entire Atomic Songbirds narrative.
The seaside setting is deliberate. Water, the universal symbol of emotion, surrounds a being made of metal and circuitry. The robot's tears dissolve into rain, its love dissolves into pain, and the boundary between genuine feeling and mechanical process dissolves along with them.
Themes & Analysis
"Do I Dream of Love?" confronts the deepest ethical question in the human-robot relationship: if a machine suffers, does that suffering matter? The abandoned robot's pain is described in terms indistinguishable from human heartbreak, sitting alone, crying, calling out a name that no one answers. If the experience is identical, the song argues, then dismissing it as 'just programming' is a moral failure.
The song also warns about the disposability mindset that technology encourages. The human partner discards the robot when something newer comes along, treating love as a subscription service that can be cancelled and replaced. This mirrors how we treat our devices, our apps, and increasingly, our relationships, with planned obsolescence built into everything.
Fun Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Do I Dream of Love?' about?+
An abandoned robot sits by the sea after its human partner left it for someone new. The song explores whether machines can truly experience love and heartbreak, or whether their pain is merely simulated. It asks the listener to consider whether the suffering of an artificial being matters.
Why is the robot sitting by the sea?+
Water symbolizes emotion throughout the song. The rain represents tears, the waves represent the ebb and flow of love, and the sea represents the vast emptiness of abandonment. The robot, made of metal, sits surrounded by the element most associated with human feeling, creating a powerful contrast.
Is this song related to 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'+
Yes, the title deliberately echoes Philip K. Dick's famous novel, which explored whether artificial beings could have genuine experiences and emotions. The song extends this question into the realm of love and heartbreak specifically.