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.
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
I love you so
Much more when you're not here
Watchin' all the bad shows
Drinking all of my beer
I don't believe Adam and Eve
Spent every goddamn day together
If you give me some room, there will be room enough for two (two)
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
I don't wanna wake up with another
But I don't wanna always wake up with you either
No, you can't hop into my shower
All I ask for is one fuckin' hour
You taste so sweet
But I can't eat the same thing every day
Cuttin' off the phone
Leave me the fuck alone
Tomorrow I'll be beggin' you to come home
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Go away, come back
Go away, come back
Why can't I just have it both ways
Go away, come back
Go away, come back
I wish you knew the difference
Go away, come back
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Tonight (go away, give me a chance to miss you)
Say goodbye, it'll make me want to kiss you (leave me alone I'm lonely, alone I'm lonely)
I'm tired (go away, give me a chance to miss you)
Say goodbye, it'll make me want to kiss you (leave me alone I'm lonely, alone I'm lonely)
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
I love you so
Much more when you're not here
Watchin' all the bad shows
Drinking all of my beer
I don't believe Adam and Eve
Spent every goddamn day together
If you give me some room, there will be room enough for two (two)
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
I don't wanna wake up with another
But I don't wanna always wake up with you either
No, you can't hop into my shower
All I ask for is one fuckin' hour
You taste so sweet
But I can't eat the same thing every day
Cuttin' off the phone
Leave me the fuck alone
Tomorrow I'll be beggin' you to come home
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Go away, come back
Go away, come back
Why can't I just have it both ways
Go away, come back
Go away, come back
I wish you knew the difference
Go away, come back
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
Tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely
I'm tired
Leave me alone, I'm lonely
Alone I'm lonely tonight
Tonight (go away, give me a chance to miss you)
Say goodbye, it'll make me want to kiss you (leave me alone I'm lonely, alone I'm lonely)
I'm tired (go away, give me a chance to miss you)
Say goodbye, it'll make me want to kiss you (leave me alone I'm lonely, alone I'm lonely)
Go away
Give me a chance to miss you
Say goodbye
It'll make me want to kiss you
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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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/
Magical
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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 love the song. I really do.
But I am very lucky in being able to say that I feel the total opposite to this, and fortunately so does my fiancee. We want to spend every waking minute together.
But ironically I work away a lot, but we seem to handle it quite well!