Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Why, am I changing?
Why do people, get complacent with the things they're told?
World disasters they come and go.
I'd give anything just to be back home.
'Cause there are people, asking why.
There are people, who believe in
In life, gets confusing but I don't know why.
But I've made my plans already.
Had this trouble with it all my life.
Well world disasters, they come and go.
I'd give all my strength to be back home
'Cause there are people, asking why
There are people asking
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe in life.
Well how do we get to where we come from?
Peace and love ain't enough these days.
Evolution says "Time is running out,
We've been here too long..."
'Cause there are people, asking, why?
Ayea, no-hoo
Oh, there are people, asking
Ayea
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it.
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How do I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it
How can I get back to where I've come from, now?
How do I get back to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've
Why do people, get complacent with the things they're told?
World disasters they come and go.
I'd give anything just to be back home.
'Cause there are people, asking why.
There are people, who believe in
In life, gets confusing but I don't know why.
But I've made my plans already.
Had this trouble with it all my life.
Well world disasters, they come and go.
I'd give all my strength to be back home
'Cause there are people, asking why
There are people asking
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe in life.
Well how do we get to where we come from?
Peace and love ain't enough these days.
Evolution says "Time is running out,
We've been here too long..."
'Cause there are people, asking, why?
Ayea, no-hoo
Oh, there are people, asking
Ayea
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it.
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How do I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it
How do I get to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've destroyed, green?
Can I get back to where I've come from?
'Cause there are people, who believe it
How can I get back to where I've come from, now?
How do I get back to where I've come from, now?
How will I paint this garden I've
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More Featured Meanings
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I believe this song is asking How did we arrive to such as sorry state of affairs and how do we get back to that place where we could do things differently to avoid arriving HERE!