Breakdown Lyrics
No one can understand a word that I say
When I break down just a little and lose my head
Nothing I try to do can work the same way
With a little help from all my friends
Anybody else could see what's wrong with me
But they walk away and just pretend
No one can understand a word that I say
When I break down just a little and lose my head
Nothing I try to do can work the same way
All they ever told me was good news
People that I've never seen are kind to me
Is it any wonder I'm confused
Freedom, freedom, take the wall away
Freedom, freedom, we will not obey
Freedom, freedom, take them all away






It is about mental illness- using the theme of the Album - I Robot, hence "breakdown".

just think about the last 4 lines!

I break down - has a double meaning for humans and machines. When a robot breaks down, it needs to depend on its human masters to repair them. When artificial intelligence is created and robots can mend each other and have forward thinking - and become dependent and don't need to rely on their human masters - the end is all to conceivable.

Great meaningful song.
I agree it is about mental illness (depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.).
I wonder though about the last 4 lines: "... Take them all away", would that refer to "all the friends who used to talk to me"?
I'm not sure it's take them all away. I thought it was just a repeat of take the wall away.
I'm not sure it's take them all away. I thought it was just a repeat of take the wall away.

Its not "My so called friends" Its "I'm so confused"