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.
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And he shows 'em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it way out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Fancy white gloves has Macheath, dear
So there's never, never a trace of red
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
Lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife?
From a tugboat on the river going slow
A cement bag is dropping down
You know that cement is for the weight, dear
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
My man Louis Miller he split the scene, babe
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Do you suppose this guy he did something rash?
Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
They all sang it with so much feeling
That Old Blue Eyes he ain't gonna add nothing new
But with this big fat band jumping behind me
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
When I tell you all about Mack the Knife, babe
It's an offer you can never refuse
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
And this wonderful, great big band bringing up the rear
All these bad cats in this band now
They make the greatest sounds you're ever gonna hear
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Hey, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Macheath that bum is back in town
You'd better lock your doors and call the law
Because Mackie's back in town
And he shows 'em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it way out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Fancy white gloves has Macheath, dear
So there's never, never a trace of red
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
Lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife?
From a tugboat on the river going slow
A cement bag is dropping down
You know that cement is for the weight, dear
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
My man Louis Miller he split the scene, babe
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Do you suppose this guy he did something rash?
Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
They all sang it with so much feeling
That Old Blue Eyes he ain't gonna add nothing new
But with this big fat band jumping behind me
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
When I tell you all about Mack the Knife, babe
It's an offer you can never refuse
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
And this wonderful, great big band bringing up the rear
All these bad cats in this band now
They make the greatest sounds you're ever gonna hear
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Hey, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Macheath that bum is back in town
You'd better lock your doors and call the law
Because Mackie's back in town
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Sugar Lyrics as written by Stanley Turrentine
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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No Surprises
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