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.
Well I asked her while she cried what she was doin with her life
She said I could marry a sailor I think that I'd make a good wife
But he would leave for months at sea leaving only the baby and me
And I do not think that I could stay faithful
And I could leave this town for good bringing only some photos and a book
But I'm pretty sure my legs would grow weary
And then she asked how bout me
I said, well, darlin' let me see
I hear wedding bells and see kisses from lovers
Those lovers or so it seems they appear to be you and me
But I could be wrong cause my mind is awful lazy
Now I'm seein something else and it's me all by myself
And I appear to be older and I'm awful lonely
And as I cry I ask God, 'Why? How could you let my poor wife die?'
And I told her not cry to wipe her eyes
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
She said I could marry a sailor I think that I'd make a good wife
But he would leave for months at sea leaving only the baby and me
And I do not think that I could stay faithful
And I could leave this town for good bringing only some photos and a book
But I'm pretty sure my legs would grow weary
And then she asked how bout me
I said, well, darlin' let me see
I hear wedding bells and see kisses from lovers
Those lovers or so it seems they appear to be you and me
But I could be wrong cause my mind is awful lazy
Now I'm seein something else and it's me all by myself
And I appear to be older and I'm awful lonely
And as I cry I ask God, 'Why? How could you let my poor wife die?'
And I told her not cry to wipe her eyes
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
Well, if love is all you had
Well, then baby, that's not bad
And if love is all you got
Then that's a hell of a lot
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This is such a pretty song. Does anyone know who the female vocalist is?
Alva Leigh Peden