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.
Have you been around
Have you done your share of comin' down
On different things that people do
Have you been aware
You got brothers and sisters who care
About what's gonna happen to you in a year from now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Did you pay your dues
Did you read the news
This mornin' when the paper landed in your yard
Do you know their names
Can you play their games
Without losin' track and comin' down a bit too hard
Oh
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
Together, together
(Shake your hand) you know I'll be standin' by
(Share the land) to help you if you're worried
(Shake your hand) no more sadness, no more sorrow
(Share the land) and no more bad times
(Shake your hand) every day comin' sunshine
(Share the land) every day everybody laughin'
(Shake your hand) walkin' together by the river
(Share the land) walkin' together and laughin'
(Shake your hand) everybody singin' together
(Share the land) everybody singin' and laughin'
(Shake your hand) good times, good times
(Share the land) everybody walkin' by the river now
(Shake your hand) walkin', singin', talkin'
(Share the land) smilin', laughin', diggin' each other
(Shake your hand) everybody happy together
(Share the land) I'll be there, don't worry, if you're needin' me
(Shake your hand) call on me, call on me
(Share the land) call my name, I'll be runnin' to help you
(Shake your hand) everybody walkin' by the river now
(Share the land) everybody, everybody laughin'
(Shake your hand) everybody singin' and talkin'
Have you done your share of comin' down
On different things that people do
Have you been aware
You got brothers and sisters who care
About what's gonna happen to you in a year from now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Did you pay your dues
Did you read the news
This mornin' when the paper landed in your yard
Do you know their names
Can you play their games
Without losin' track and comin' down a bit too hard
Oh
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I'll be there to share the land
That they'll be givin' away
When we all live together
Together, together
(Shake your hand) you know I'll be standin' by
(Share the land) to help you if you're worried
(Shake your hand) no more sadness, no more sorrow
(Share the land) and no more bad times
(Shake your hand) every day comin' sunshine
(Share the land) every day everybody laughin'
(Shake your hand) walkin' together by the river
(Share the land) walkin' together and laughin'
(Shake your hand) everybody singin' together
(Share the land) everybody singin' and laughin'
(Shake your hand) good times, good times
(Share the land) everybody walkin' by the river now
(Shake your hand) walkin', singin', talkin'
(Share the land) smilin', laughin', diggin' each other
(Shake your hand) everybody happy together
(Share the land) I'll be there, don't worry, if you're needin' me
(Shake your hand) call on me, call on me
(Share the land) call my name, I'll be runnin' to help you
(Shake your hand) everybody walkin' by the river now
(Share the land) everybody, everybody laughin'
(Shake your hand) everybody singin' and talkin'
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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/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
The line
"You got brothers and sisters who care About what's gonna happen to you in a year from now"
always strikes me to be related to the one-year tours that American soldiers had to undertake in Vietnam... and the singer wanted to be there to shake their hands when they return to the world after being in Hell.
Randy Bachman from the Guess Who said that song was more of a goof on the hippie movement. Communal living, "tune in, turn on and drop out" mentality of the early 1970's was great in theory but doesn't necessarily make one a productive member of society. So when he is saying "maybe..." it probably means just that. In reality, no one was going to share their land or give it away. it was more of an ideal of the time. The hippies mostly became yuppies when they figured out that wanting a better quality life than "Peace, Love, Dope, Right On and Power to the People" was producing. So Burton Cummings realized that if all the things the 1960's flower children were wanting comes true... he might "drink the koolaid" and buy into the lifestyle. Until then - show me da money!
@drlingus -- At first I was skeptical about this one (my opinion has always been it's about the Vietnam War), but now I am agreeing. Especially when he starts to say THEY will be giving away all this land. First of all, who is "they?" The government? Yeah, right. It does sound very idealistic and fanciful, something some hippies thought they'd wind up getting for free after hitting the pipe a few times too many. Maybe this sort of thing happened in Canada? ... If it ever happened in America, these hippies would be getting the crappiest land imaginable, where nothing could be grown without sufficient irrigation, or whatever. :) <br /> <br /> Part of me still thinks "Vietnam War" though, especially the first stanza, in which he's saying something's gonna "happen to you" a year from now, presumably because the guy he's speaking about is American (rather than Canadian) and is about to turn 18 a year from now, and therefore could get drafted. <br /> <br /> There's also "did you know their names?" ... a question which could be addressed toward somebody else who gets a newspaper with local Vietnam War casualties in its obituary section.
@drlingus <br /> <br /> Nice try, but this is a rubbish take.
Have you been around Have you done your share o' comin' down On different things that people do Have you been aware You got brothers and sisters who care About what's gonna happen to you in a year from now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now
------ Lead Guitar ------
Did you pay your dues Did you read the news This mornin' when the paper landed in your yard Do you know their names Can you play their games Without losin' track and comin' down a bit too hard Oh!
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now
------ Lead Guitar Solo ------
Mmm, maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now
Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together Together, together
(Shake your hand, share the land) You know I'll be standin' by to help you if you're worried (Shake your hand, share the land) No more sadness, no more sorrow, and no more bad times (Shake your hand, share the land) Every day comin' sunshine, every day everybody laughin' (Shake your hand, share the land) Walkin' together by the river, walkin' together and laughin' (Shake your hand, share the land) Everybody singin' together, everybody singin' and laughin' (Shake your hand, share the land) Good times, good times, everybody walkin' by the river now (Shake your hand, share the land) Walkin', singin', talkin', smilin', laughin', diggin' each other (Shake your hand, share the land) Everybody happy together, I'll be there, don't worry, if you're needin' me (Shake your hand, share the land) Call on me, call on me, call my name, I'll be runnin' to help you (Shake your hand, share the land) Everybody walkin' by the river now, everybody, everybody laughin' (Shake your hand, share the land) Everybody singin' and talkin', smilin', laughin', diggin' each other (Shake your hand, share the land)
yes a good song...and finally one with comments:D
Awesome chorus! I love this song!
I heard somewhere this song was about drugs (it is a psychedelic era song), but I can only see this in the last part of the song. Anybody know for sure?
My history teacher told us that this song was banned in America during the "red scare" because it promotes communism. Indeed, it does:
"Maybe I'll be there to share the land That they'll be givin' away When we all live together I'm talkin' 'bout together now..."
Giving away land when we all live together...hm...
In any case hooray for Canadian rock bands!!!!!
@Canadian_Bacon I don't recall the song ever being banned. I grew up in that era and I always just thought of it as a great hippy song.
holy jesus the absolute best concert song! its so easy to get into the music, and everyone is into it! OH! so good!
Someone was studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. Probably Burton. He was lost and searching in those years. "Walkin' down by the river" is a clear reference to Revelations= 22:1,2.
obviously about commune lifestyle. the singer hopes that at some time in the future, everybody will live together - everybody will care about each other (what happens to you in a year from now) and give land away free, without possesion or private property: the hippie dream. he says MAYBE he'll be there because he isn't sure how long this transformation of society will take. great soulful song.