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.
In the cool of the evening
I don't know the reason
But I long to touch
Some young tender hearts, sometimes
So I go to this party
With a bunch of me hardies
They say, don't get too cute
Don't get too smart
'Cause these people are crazy
They toot coke and drink wang-too
And they talk in some crazy tongue
There's a slit-eyed lady
Sayin' don't you be so stupid
I may be old, but I'm still good fun
Still good fun
Yeah, I'm still good fun
Well, I ain't that choosy
I'll flip-flop with a floozy
If I figure there's no strings attached
But sometimes I loose my feet
Underneath the back seat
And I have to fly my heart at half mast
Well, this old bitty
She was smart, and she was witty
She was really out of control, you know
It was stumble or fall
I had my back to the wall
I didn't know to bet on win, place, or show
[Chorus]
Welcome to Chinatown, she said
I'm gonna lay your body down, she said
I ain't no queen, but I'm wearin' this crown
She said
Welcome to Chinatown
Welcome to Chinatown
Well, she shimmered and she shook
What she wanted she took
She shook like some rickshaw ride
She stuck her fingers down my throat
Till I almost choked
I thought I'd gone heaven and died
Well, she took me by the ear
And said what do you want to hear, boy?
You want to hear those crazy old lies?
I said nothing you can say, girl
Can drive me away
Just check my complexion
Make sure I'm still alive
[Chorus x 2]
Welcome to Chinatown
Welcome to Chinatown
I don't know the reason
But I long to touch
Some young tender hearts, sometimes
So I go to this party
With a bunch of me hardies
They say, don't get too cute
Don't get too smart
'Cause these people are crazy
They toot coke and drink wang-too
And they talk in some crazy tongue
There's a slit-eyed lady
Sayin' don't you be so stupid
I may be old, but I'm still good fun
Still good fun
Yeah, I'm still good fun
Well, I ain't that choosy
I'll flip-flop with a floozy
If I figure there's no strings attached
But sometimes I loose my feet
Underneath the back seat
And I have to fly my heart at half mast
Well, this old bitty
She was smart, and she was witty
She was really out of control, you know
It was stumble or fall
I had my back to the wall
I didn't know to bet on win, place, or show
[Chorus]
Welcome to Chinatown, she said
I'm gonna lay your body down, she said
I ain't no queen, but I'm wearin' this crown
She said
Welcome to Chinatown
Welcome to Chinatown
Well, she shimmered and she shook
What she wanted she took
She shook like some rickshaw ride
She stuck her fingers down my throat
Till I almost choked
I thought I'd gone heaven and died
Well, she took me by the ear
And said what do you want to hear, boy?
You want to hear those crazy old lies?
I said nothing you can say, girl
Can drive me away
Just check my complexion
Make sure I'm still alive
[Chorus x 2]
Welcome to Chinatown
Welcome to Chinatown
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Welcome to Chinatown Lyrics as written by John Mellencamp
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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