Left to My Own Devices

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First released in 1988, this song was the second single from the Pet Shop Boys' third album, Introspective. "Left to My Own Devices" is about being free to be who you are and do what you want. The song discusses the decisions we make throughout the day, decisions made without thinking about the outcome, decisions that get us through our mundane, workaday lives. The lyrics follow a protagonist, from the time he gets "out of bed at half past ten" until he returns home, taking "to the stage in a secret life", providing an intimate look at his daily life, a life made more convenient and more seamless by his devices, which bring him closer to others while keeping him isolated at the same time.

I get out of bed at half past ten
Phone up a friend who's a party animal
Turn on the news and drink some tea
Maybe if you're with me we'll do some shopping

One day I'll read or learn to drive a car
If you pass the test, you can beat the rest
But I don't like to compete or talk street, street, street
I can pick up the best from the party animal

I could leave you
Say good-bye
Or I could love you
If I try
And I could
And left to my own devices
I probably would
Left to my own devices
I probably would

Pick up a brochure about the sun
Learn to ignore what the photographer saw
I was always told that you should join a club
Stick with the gang if you want to belong

I was a lonely boy, no strength, no joy
In a world of my own at the back of the garden
I didn't want to compete or play out on the street
for in a secret life I was a Roundhead general

I could leave you
Say good-bye
Or I could love you
If I try
And I could
And left to my own devices
I probably would
Left to my own devices
I probably would
Oh, I would

I was faced with a choice at a difficult age
Would I write a book? Or should I take to the stage?
But in the back of my head I heard distant feet
Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat

It's not a crime when you look the way you do
The way I like to picture you
When I get home, it's late at night
I pour a drink and watch the fight
Turn off the TV, look at a book
Pick up the phone, fix some food
Maybe I'll sit up all night and day
Waiting for the minute I hear you say

I could leave you
Say good-bye
Or I could love you
If I try
And I could
And left to my own devices
I probably would

Come on, baby
Say good-bye
I could love you
If I try
And I could
And left to my own devices
I probably would
Left to my own devices
I probably would

Out of bed at half past ten
The party animal phones a friend
Picks up news about the sun
And the working day has just begun
Sticks with the gang at the back of the street
Pass the test and he don't compete
Drive the car, if you're with me
Che Guevara's drinking tea
He reads about a new device
And takes to the stage in a secret life
(I would if I could)

Left to my own devices
I probably would
If I was left to my own devices
I possibly would
(I would if I could)
If I was left to my own devices
I probably would
If I was left to my own devices
I probably would

I could leave you
Say good-bye
Or I could love you
If I try
And I could
And left to my own devices
I probably would
Left to my own devices
I probably would
Come on, baby
Left to my own devices
I probably would

Written by Tenant/Lowe

Works Cited

Some of this song analysis was attained from the Pet Shop Boys fansite Geowayne: Commentary, Interpretation, and Analysis of Every Song by Pet Shop Boys. Retrieved from http://www.geowayne.com/newDesign/introspective/devices.htm

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