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.
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
I don't want to let any of you down
I see me on the floor of a room inside
My own house with a set of darker eyes
Distortion shows row to open doors
I closed for good reasons years before
Growing up I was told one too many times
I'd never be good enough never be alright
See I'm an equal like you with fears
I'm not above or below My only home is here
Want you to know I sometimes let go
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
The voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Kick kick kick myself numbed up to reacquaint with hell
Lost touch and stared off into doubt
Depersonalized in a cloud
Trading afflictions for imperfections
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
The voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Because I have troubles I hide
And emotions that I cry
And I am not strong sometimes
I too need song to save my life
Run from self harm
Experiencing alterations
(Run from self harm)
No control over self-perception
(Run from self harm)
I am on outside bones observing these skeletons
(Get away) I hate the darkness
(Get away) I turn all the lights on
Shouting words at a mirror
Shouting words at a mirror
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying but I can't find the hero
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
This voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Because I have troubles I hide
And emotions that I cry
But I will get through this just fine
We have each other to remind
Trying to find the hero
I don't want to let any of you down
I see me on the floor of a room inside
My own house with a set of darker eyes
Distortion shows row to open doors
I closed for good reasons years before
Growing up I was told one too many times
I'd never be good enough never be alright
See I'm an equal like you with fears
I'm not above or below My only home is here
Want you to know I sometimes let go
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
The voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Kick kick kick myself numbed up to reacquaint with hell
Lost touch and stared off into doubt
Depersonalized in a cloud
Trading afflictions for imperfections
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
The voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Because I have troubles I hide
And emotions that I cry
And I am not strong sometimes
I too need song to save my life
Run from self harm
Experiencing alterations
(Run from self harm)
No control over self-perception
(Run from self harm)
I am on outside bones observing these skeletons
(Get away) I hate the darkness
(Get away) I turn all the lights on
Shouting words at a mirror
Shouting words at a mirror
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying but I can't find the hero
Shouting words at a mirror
Trying to find the hero
They all say I am
This voice behind these verses
Is still so far from perfect
I don't want to let any of you down
Because I have troubles I hide
And emotions that I cry
But I will get through this just fine
We have each other to remind
Lyrics submitted by themikeman, edited by Skoobasteve24
Equals Lyrics as written by Daniel Coddaire Audelio Flores
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
"Shouting words at a mirror, trying to find the hero, they all say I am. The voice behind these verses is still so far from perfect. I don't want to let any of you down.
Because I have troubles I hide and emotions that I cry. But I will get through this just fine. We have each other to remind"
i think this song is about how they don't want to be cocky and stuff, they want to always have that down-to-earth attitude.. at first i don't like this song at all, after i read the lyrics i thought that this song is a cool one,,
kudos for SYG for making interesting lyrics that makes all of their song 5 times better!