I take my card and I stand in line
To make a buck I work overtime
Dear Sir letters keep coming in the mail
I work my back till it’s racked with pain
The boss can’t even recall my name
I show up late and I’m docked
It never fails
I feel like just another
Spoke in a great big wheel
Like a tiny blade of grass
In a great big field
To workers I’m just another drone
To Ma Bell I’m just another phone
I’m just another statistic on a sheet
To teachers I’m just another child
To IRS I’m another file
I’m just another consensus on the street
Gonna cruise out of this city
Head down to the sea
Gonna shout out at the ocean
Hey it’s me
And I feel like a number
Feel like a number
Feel like a stranger
A stranger in this land
I feel like a number
I’m not a number
I’m not a number
Dammit I’m a man
I said I’m a man
Feeling Lost in the Crowd
In “Feel Like A Number,” Bob Seger delivers a powerful anthem about the struggle of individuality in a world dominated by bureaucracy and routine. Through vivid imagery, Seger paints the picture of a working-class person feeling invisible, reduced to just another statistic. The lyrics capture the monotony of daily life—standing in lines, working overtime, and being recognized only as another file or phone number. The repetition reflects the frustration and alienation many feel when caught in the endless cycle of work and societal expectations.
A Cry for Recognition
Despite the overwhelming sense of anonymity, the song’s protagonist refuses to accept this fate. The declaration, “I’m not a number, dammit, I’m a man,” is a bold affirmation of human dignity and the desire to be seen as an individual rather than a cog in the machine. Seger’s passionate delivery transforms the song into a rallying cry for anyone who has ever felt overlooked or undervalued.
Song Credits
Artist: Bob Seger
Songwriter: Bob Seger
Release Year: 1978
Label: Capitol Records