“Semi-Automatic” describes Tyler’s frustration with his inability to control part of himself, the part that is automatic. He has remarked on being able to do certain things effortlessly, such as avoid falling weak to a simple temptation, but then being incapable of doing other things such as be the best person he can be, to put it broadly.

Tyler presents himself as two different people who are as different as night and day. In a way, they actually are night and day: the night represents the dark side of himself whereas the rising of the sun gives him both control and relief (as seen in Verse 2).

“Semi-Automatic” is reminiscent of famous stories such as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the titular character battles the good and evil within, as well as the verses found in Romans 7 where Christian figure, Paul the Apostle, says:

¹⁸…For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.