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.
Lying wide awake in the dark
Trying to figure out where you are
Always going nowhere, afraid of going somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Sometimes when I think about you
Why you're always running away
Sitting in your car
Changing who you are
And drowning the thoughts of your life in the music
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
How you gonna get through the year? You can't
Playing on both sides of the net
Too many people want too many things
And you only want to forget
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to ever her
How you gonna make it through?
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin' to yourself
You're always thinkin'
You're always thinkin'
You knew what everybody else
Should do with their lives
Lying wide awake in the dark
Trying to figure out where you are
Always going nowhere, afraid of going somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Somewhere's a place in your heart
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to ever her
How you gonna get through the year?
Trying to figure out where you are
Always going nowhere, afraid of going somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Sometimes when I think about you
Why you're always running away
Sitting in your car
Changing who you are
And drowning the thoughts of your life in the music
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
How you gonna get through the year? You can't
Playing on both sides of the net
Too many people want too many things
And you only want to forget
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to ever her
How you gonna make it through?
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin' to yourself
You're always thinkin'
You're always thinkin'
You knew what everybody else
Should do with their lives
Lying wide awake in the dark
Trying to figure out where you are
Always going nowhere, afraid of going somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Somewhere's a place in your heart
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to ever her
How you gonna get through the year?
Lyrics submitted by AgathaKavka
Red Light Fever Lyrics as written by Liz Phair Gary Clark
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this song so much, It truly speaks to me.
Im in a situation in my life, where I dont know what I want. Im at a crossroads, and everyones telling me to make a decision and that it will set me on my lifes path. But Im scared, what if I dont like what I choose, I cant go back. I just want time to stop, so I can figure out what I want. And I want everyone to stop telling me to do this or do that because if I choose something different theyll just be disapointed. I lay awake at night worrying about it. If I set things in motion i cant go back, but if I dont do anything, then it will be too late and ill have no choices or options and EVERYONE becomes mad at me for not taking theyr advice. its a lose-lose situation. and then theres my parents, who are seperated and at each others throats, so I have to appease them bothand that always seems to crash down around me cos they drag me into arguments.