Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
MY MOTIVATIONS UNRESOLVED
THINGS ARE JUST NEVER WHAT THEY SEEM
APATHY'S CURRENCIES DECEIT
PITCH BENDING RADIATED DREAMS
THE JACKAL'S WISHING WELL FORGOTTEN
DARK CLOUD SUNRISE
THE VIEW OF SOMEONE SOMEWHERE ELSE IS
BURNT IN MY EYES
HOW LONG-DUG UP REMAINS
HOW LOW-THE ROTTING FAME
HOW LOW-TO SEE RIGHT THROUGH
HOW LONG-THE HOLE I KNEW
HOW LOW-THE CLEAR EYED STAIN
HOW LONG-TO SET AFLAME
HOW LOW-TO BE SET UP
HOW LONG-AND TAKEN OUT
THE ANT-LIKE KARMA FROM THE CRACK IN A HAND
FULL PAINTING ON A MURAL IN A FOREIGN LANDFILL
MIND CONTROLLED BY THE PULLEY OF THE STRINGS
SO REMOTE THE VIEW FROM THE PUTTETRY SWINGSET
MY RESERVATIONS HAVE EVOLVED
SCENES ONCE NEGATED USHERED IN
MERCY KILLINGS ONE TO ONE DEFEND
VISIONARY CRIMINALS DESCEND
ON KNEES ALL BURNING
A TERM OF USELESS LIFELESS THOUGHT
WHAT A PAID RIDE
ALCHEMIC JAIL-CELL VIVISECTION
TEST-SUBJECT DAY JOB
HOW LONG-TO PACIFY
HOW LOW-YOU STILL DENY
HOW LOW-FROM UP ABOVE
HOW LONG-THE CREEPING CROWN
HOW LOW-THE TRIPPING SOUND
HOW LONG-TO KICK BACK DOWN
HOW LOW-THE HOLY CHEAT
HOW LONG-THE LEAP OF FAITH
THESE REVELATIONS UNDERMINDED
CONTROLLED BELIEF IN LEADS MANKIND
EACH PENNY SOLD AND MESMERIZED
WE'RE STONED
TWO-FOLD REVERSAL BECKONING
THE BINDING CRAYON WORDS INVERTED
JUSTICE IN TRAVESTIA
WE WORSHIP ACID MOANS AND CURBSIDE-HOLIDAYS
RECYCLE SHIT WE THROW AWAY IN GLOSSY PACKAGED CRAZE
MAYBE IN A DAY OR SO I'LL STUMBLE ON THAT GRASSY KNOLL
TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
ANNOUNCING TO MYSELF: WAKE-UP
WE KILL EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT TIED DOWN
WE EUTHANIZE BUT KEEP ALIVE THE LOWEST FORM OF PRISON LIFE
SO USEFUL AND EXPERIMENTAL
TREATMENT OF THE SICK AND DYING
WHAT ABOUT THE TORTURE?
THINGS ARE JUST NEVER WHAT THEY SEEM
APATHY'S CURRENCIES DECEIT
PITCH BENDING RADIATED DREAMS
THE JACKAL'S WISHING WELL FORGOTTEN
DARK CLOUD SUNRISE
THE VIEW OF SOMEONE SOMEWHERE ELSE IS
BURNT IN MY EYES
HOW LONG-DUG UP REMAINS
HOW LOW-THE ROTTING FAME
HOW LOW-TO SEE RIGHT THROUGH
HOW LONG-THE HOLE I KNEW
HOW LOW-THE CLEAR EYED STAIN
HOW LONG-TO SET AFLAME
HOW LOW-TO BE SET UP
HOW LONG-AND TAKEN OUT
THE ANT-LIKE KARMA FROM THE CRACK IN A HAND
FULL PAINTING ON A MURAL IN A FOREIGN LANDFILL
MIND CONTROLLED BY THE PULLEY OF THE STRINGS
SO REMOTE THE VIEW FROM THE PUTTETRY SWINGSET
MY RESERVATIONS HAVE EVOLVED
SCENES ONCE NEGATED USHERED IN
MERCY KILLINGS ONE TO ONE DEFEND
VISIONARY CRIMINALS DESCEND
ON KNEES ALL BURNING
A TERM OF USELESS LIFELESS THOUGHT
WHAT A PAID RIDE
ALCHEMIC JAIL-CELL VIVISECTION
TEST-SUBJECT DAY JOB
HOW LONG-TO PACIFY
HOW LOW-YOU STILL DENY
HOW LOW-FROM UP ABOVE
HOW LONG-THE CREEPING CROWN
HOW LOW-THE TRIPPING SOUND
HOW LONG-TO KICK BACK DOWN
HOW LOW-THE HOLY CHEAT
HOW LONG-THE LEAP OF FAITH
THESE REVELATIONS UNDERMINDED
CONTROLLED BELIEF IN LEADS MANKIND
EACH PENNY SOLD AND MESMERIZED
WE'RE STONED
TWO-FOLD REVERSAL BECKONING
THE BINDING CRAYON WORDS INVERTED
JUSTICE IN TRAVESTIA
WE WORSHIP ACID MOANS AND CURBSIDE-HOLIDAYS
RECYCLE SHIT WE THROW AWAY IN GLOSSY PACKAGED CRAZE
MAYBE IN A DAY OR SO I'LL STUMBLE ON THAT GRASSY KNOLL
TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
ANNOUNCING TO MYSELF: WAKE-UP
WE KILL EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT TIED DOWN
WE EUTHANIZE BUT KEEP ALIVE THE LOWEST FORM OF PRISON LIFE
SO USEFUL AND EXPERIMENTAL
TREATMENT OF THE SICK AND DYING
WHAT ABOUT THE TORTURE?
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
You can definitely hear how Ogre has influenced this song. Ogre is an amazing man, though personally, I thought he was almost too in character in "Repo! the Genetic Opera" for his ability to shine through the set limitations of the character.