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.
V1
Started to fight
But I took off in fright
Could not believe
That she didn't chase me
V2
Climbed on her back
With an ambush attack
Down came the force
And down came the briefcase
V3
Quiet before
Then you came to the fore
Not unsurprised
Still happy to see you
V4
You know there's no chance
Not a sniff of romance
And I'm thinking this is the end of the line
Chorus
And you're feeling fine
Are you looking for favours
Returned for your crime
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I just want away
V5
A hit for a feel
With unconquered appeal
You locked the door
And I started to tremble
V6
Touch without touch
Are we feeling too much
I can't decide
If I'm feeing able
V7
Eyes that don't meet
Are we too scared to speak
I can't provide
What you are requesting
V8
You know there's no chance
Not a sniff of romance
And I'm thinking this is the end of the line
Chorus
And you're feeling fine
While you're looking for favours
Returned for your crime
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I just want away
(M8)
Chorus
And I, I'll try to feel fine
While I'm taking orders from bottles of wine
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I just want away
Touch without touch
Feel without feel
Are we both really hoping
This just isn't real
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I can't give today
Started to fight
But I took off in fright
Could not believe
That she didn't chase me
V2
Climbed on her back
With an ambush attack
Down came the force
And down came the briefcase
V3
Quiet before
Then you came to the fore
Not unsurprised
Still happy to see you
V4
You know there's no chance
Not a sniff of romance
And I'm thinking this is the end of the line
Chorus
And you're feeling fine
Are you looking for favours
Returned for your crime
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I just want away
V5
A hit for a feel
With unconquered appeal
You locked the door
And I started to tremble
V6
Touch without touch
Are we feeling too much
I can't decide
If I'm feeing able
V7
Eyes that don't meet
Are we too scared to speak
I can't provide
What you are requesting
V8
You know there's no chance
Not a sniff of romance
And I'm thinking this is the end of the line
Chorus
And you're feeling fine
While you're looking for favours
Returned for your crime
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I just want away
(M8)
Chorus
And I, I'll try to feel fine
While I'm taking orders from bottles of wine
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I just want away
Touch without touch
Feel without feel
Are we both really hoping
This just isn't real
Help me to stand
Help me to say
That I don't want to be here
I don't want to stay
I can't give today
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No Surprises
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This song is reeeeeeally sombre. It details someone's girlfriend finding out that her boyfriend was either cheating or flirting with someone else, so she decks the girl, but gets freaked and runs off. "Started to fight, but I took off in fright Could not believe that she didn't chase me" The guy meets her back at their place, presumably, and they "make up". "Then you came to the fore Not unsurprised, still happy to see you" But something is clearly dead. They try to have sex, but she can't do it, so she drinks the rest of the night off. "Touch without touch, are we feeling too much? I can't decide if I'm feeing able" "And I, I'll try to feel fine While I'm taking orders from bottles of wine" The fact that this song resonates with me this much says a bit too much about my last relationship, lol.