In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
If there's been a way to build it,
There'll be a way to destroy it,
Things are not all that out of control.
There'll be a way to destroy it,
Things are not all that out of control.
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Crest Lyrics as written by Timothy John Gane Laetitia Sadier
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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.
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this songs means everything to me
I met an Italian girl at the concert last week in NYC, she went on about how much she loved this song and wished they would play it. They didn't, but I made a new friend.
coincido con el medio!
This is about rampant Capitalism & it's role in the current out of control global economic/political problems & the ecological issues related to it. Stereolab, while never admitting to being Marxist, have written many songs about the obvious problems of the Capitalist system. This is a call of hope that the current situation of the ever strengthening grip of neo liberal capitalism can be deconstructed.
When I hear this song, I think of the toothpaste brand. Ahh! The refreshing mint exhilarations. As I am brushing I also ponder what @nthony has said below about capitalism. But I don't think Stereolab are THAT academic and serious. realitysoldier's comment below provides an important counterpoint. There is a satirical, sarcastic tone present in these words. How naïvely idealistic and pollyanna one must be to tout these lyrics literally. Indeed it is absurd to consider one individual, small group or movement could take on a global political and economic system with the intent to correct it, to reformat it, and even “to destroy it.” There are many historical examples where such attempts have failed miserably, only adding to the problem. I believe the events of 9/11 are one such example.
These lyrics sound like some kind of logical truth: if something can be built, therefore it must be able to be unbuilt. If you can add 2 things together, then we should be able to subtract one, right?. When applied to society at large, this view is so myopic–yet terse and concise like a haiku–that it makes me think Stereolab are just playing around with ideas to get people to think from a different point of view. I don’t think they actually believe it’s that easy or simple to just undo the global economic order. Nor do I think they believe there is nothing to be concerned/alarmed about in our world, ie. that “things are not all that out of control.” Question is: how out-of-control do things need to be to be that out-of-control?
Even though I'm sure it wasn't written with this in mind, I love to quote this song to global warming alarmists :-D
The song itself is certainly about/directed at alarmists or anxiety-ridden people of any kind.
@realitysoldier how does 2011 man miss the mark on the world's simplest lyrics