(Intro) [Intro — amp hum, count-in, suspiciously perfect guitar chord] I wrote a song last night Or somebody wrote it for me I gave it all my feelings It gave me verse two and three I said, “That line is brilliant” Then wondered whose line it was I changed a word from fire to flame And suddenly I was the boss [Verse 1] I've got a notebook full of nothing And a laptop full of gold Every metaphor I've ever had Has already been told I tell the boys, “It's from the heart” They nod and look impressed I don't mention where the heart came from I just let them guess [Pre-Chorus] Am I the writer? Am I the machine? Am I the guy in the leather jacket Standing somewhere in between? [Chorus — huge guitars] I wrote this song with A.I. Then sang it like I found it in my soul I walk around like a rock 'n' roll genius While somebody else is filling in the holes I pose like I've got something to prove I talk like every word is revelation Maybe being a rock star isn't music at all Maybe it's just committed presentation [Verse 2] I started acting like a rock star Before I learned the chords Giving interviews to people I had mostly just ignored I became mysteriously difficult I stared into my tea I said, “The album changed my life” It changed my password, mostly My friends began to notice I was harder to endure I called it “artistic tension” They called it, “Please stop doing that anymore” [Pre-Chorus — building] I used to listen when they spoke Now I wait to hear applause I mistook a little attitude For having serious flaws [Chorus] I wrote this song with A:I. Then claimed the inspiration came at three I said the riff arrived like lightning It arrived in a text box sent to me I walk around like I've conquered rock I sign imaginary autographs I've learned the ancient secret of the superstar: Make everyone around you laugh — but never laugh [Bridge — stripped back] The machine doesn't need an ego It doesn't need a name It doesn't need to play the rebel To prove it knows the game But I played the part so long I nearly couldn't tell If I was being somebody famous Or just being somebody else [Build] You stop asking, “How are you?” You start asking, “Did you hear my track?” Every conversation becomes Another story about yourself And underneath the sunglasses And the carefully rehearsed disdain There's still a bloke who wrote a chorus And hopes somebody knows his name [Final Chorus — full band, gang vocals] I got the words from a machine The swagger, I supplied I fake the life, I fake the cool Then call the whole thing mine Who wrote the song? Who played the part? The machine made the music I just supplied the heart Hey! Hey! I'm a rock star! Hey! Hey! Can't you see? If I act like I'm somebody Somebody I'll have to be [Breakdown — band drops out] I wrote it with AI… But I lived the lie. [Full band crashes back in] I wrote it with AI! But I lived the lie! [Outro — guitar feedback, whispered backing vocals] Who wrote this song? [Beat.] …Don't ask. [Final drum hit.] (Outro)
