it's cold outside and the paint's peeling off of my walls there's a man outside in a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette
now the light fades out and i'm wondering what i'm doing in a room like this there's a knock on the door and just for a second i thought i remembered you
so now i'm alone now i can think for myself about little deals and S.U.'s and things that i just don't understand like a white lie that night or a slight touch at times i don't think it meant anything to you
so i open the door it's the 'friend' that i'd left in the hallway 'please sit down' a candle lit a shadow on a wall near the bed
you know i hate to ask but are 'friends' electric? only mine's broke down and now i've no one to love
so i find out your reason for the phone calls and smiles and it hurts and i'm lonely and i should never have tried and i missed you tonight so it's time to leave you see it meant everything to me
Gary Numan, 'Are 'Friends' Electric?', _R_e_p_l_i_c_a_s (Beggars Banquet/ATCO 1979)