Computerized Lyrics
[Hook]
Computerized
Computerized
Computerized
Everyone will be...
Computerized
[Verse 1: Jay Z]
She says I'm cold
Only time I'm comfortable kissing is sending X and Os
I send a message back to dispute this fact, but this I know
I hope to find my love, like we used to before dial-up
Whatever happened to our phone sex?
Right now, can't think of anything we don't text
I broke her heart on the email
I'm so cold, I'ma just spare y'all the details
I can't even tell y'all whats real
I got an iTouch, but I can't feel
[Hook]
Computerized
Computerized
Computerized
Everyone will be...
Computerized
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
[Verse 2: Jay Z]
Start mackin' on my black berry
She got jealous I was tappin' on my Blackberry
So she didn't keep in touch
And I can't tell the difference
We ain't see each other much
Aside from some late night texts
A couple Os, a few Xs
My current feels just like my exes
Different characters, same letters
Red light, another message
Spilling her heart out, what a mess this is
P.S., this is B.S., I can't even spell it out
Am I that unaffectionate?
[Hook]
Computerized
Computerized
Computerized
Everyone will be...
Computerized
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
I don't know how I feel
Somebody tell me what's real
[Bridge 1]
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
Past was the word, now I'm living in the future
[Verse 3: Jay Z]
She said it got better and worser
And it's supposed to be vice-versa
I don't know, I kinda like this surf stuff
We used to see tears when we hurt stuff
I guess it got faster but colder
We iChat, that's how she comes over
That's better than not seeing her
And I'm so glad I'm serving her like Serena
She can YouTube in the arena
And we close, no matter how many miles between us
I told her, "Welcome to the future"
That's just how it is, I'm a user
About
Leaked in 2014, “Computerized” is the perfect storm of rap, rock, and electronica, a collaboration between the biggest rapper in the world, Jay Z, and the biggest dance artist in the world, Daft Punk.
Hov had previously rapped with a twinge of disdain for ubiquitous technology, but here, he makes that theme explicit, arguing that we abbreviate our relationships and our lives through the constant use of phones and devices. Of course, this gels perfectly with Daft Punk’s major theme of blurring the lines between technology and humanity, expressed so well in songs like “Robot Rock” and “Technologic” (and, of course, in their costumes).
Rumours circling the track’s early leak placed Kanye West at the co-producer helm; however, despite his previous work with the Parisian duo on 2013’s Rap Genius album of the year Yeezus and 2007’s “Stronger,” Pitchfork confirmed that his involvement was exactly that, a rumour.
In 2016 it was revealed the track was recorded for Daft Punk’s TRON: Legacy soundtrack, after Walt Disney Records “tortured” the duo for a single. It was eventually deemed “too rooted in real life” for it to be appropriate, and so was never released.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning