 The lyric; ""they've given you a number and taken away your name"" referred to the numerical code names given to secret agents, as in ""007"" for James Bond, although it also acts as the (unintentional) setup to the "continuation" of "Danger Man", the cult classic "The Prisoner".In 1974, the song was recorded by Devo and again in 1979 on the "Duty Now for the Future" album with a jerky, heavily modified arrangement and significantly altered lyrics (sung by guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh).The 1974 recording was featured as a music video in Devo's independent short film, "In The Beginning Was The End