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.
Gentleman
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "That's me, easy!"
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "Gentleman"
Gentleman (x2)
I'm here 'cause I'm fucked
In the fucking shit pool
Somebody jumped in my computer server
And took the information out
Come on!
Gentleman
Yo!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "That's freaky!"
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said,
Come on!
Gentleman (x2)
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman (x2)
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "That's me, easy!"
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "Gentleman"
Gentleman (x2)
I'm here 'cause I'm fucked
In the fucking shit pool
Somebody jumped in my computer server
And took the information out
Come on!
Gentleman
Yo!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said, "That's freaky!"
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you saw on TV?
Wasn't you the type to mimic what you heard on CD?
You never wanted to work you wanted everything easy
You heard Venetian Snares and you said,
Come on!
Gentleman (x2)
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman
Come on!
Gentleman (x2)
Lyrics submitted by rapka
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Is no artist safe from the self-promotion song?
It's ok when the songs is awesome. As this one is.