One of the relentless themes of The Pleasure Principle elaborates on the concepts of disassociation, often using machines as a metaphor for an emotionless human. Gary Numan wrote these lyrics while still a teenager when he was undiagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (now referred to as one of many autism spectrum disorders). While derided by the press as a “sexual voyeurism” song, Gary explained on several occasions that the song had nothing to do with sex.

“Observer” states that I’m on the outside looking in, that I was watching the world rather than being part of it.

– Gary Numan