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.
There's a hole in the wall
With a light shining in
And it's letting me know to get up
It's time to begin
Oh there is nothing to lose
'Cause it's already lost
In a runaway world
Of confusion
I'm gonna take it
That's why I fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
I don't want to lose this flamin' desire
Standing alone
In a crowded room
I can feel a chill in the air
I'm shakin'
I'm miles away
I want to cry out loud
I want to fight till the end
I won't let 'em take me alive
That's why I fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
I don't want to lose this flamin' desire
Standing alone
In a crowded room
I can feel a chill in the air
I'm shakin'
And you know I'll fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
'Cause I'm never gonna lose this flamin' desire
With a light shining in
And it's letting me know to get up
It's time to begin
Oh there is nothing to lose
'Cause it's already lost
In a runaway world
Of confusion
I'm gonna take it
That's why I fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
I don't want to lose this flamin' desire
Standing alone
In a crowded room
I can feel a chill in the air
I'm shakin'
I'm miles away
I want to cry out loud
I want to fight till the end
I won't let 'em take me alive
That's why I fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
I don't want to lose this flamin' desire
Standing alone
In a crowded room
I can feel a chill in the air
I'm shakin'
And you know I'll fight fire with fire
Oh I'm burning inside and my heart is a-cryin'
Fire with fire
'Cause I'm never gonna lose this flamin' desire
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No Surprises
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Then why post here for a song you dislike? Go post on Metallica's page.
@AquilaCat I agree with you. Post a derogatory comment about the song on the Metallica page. Kansas has been around in the Rock n Roll industry 15 years longer than Metallica and they're a classic Rock band. Metallica is a Heavy Metal Band<br /> 2 different types of music. Metallica is great band but,if it wasn't for Kansas there would never be a Metallica!!<br />