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.
I. Togetherness
(Instrumental)
II. Crossfire
Julie's sick and tired of her job n' all the reasons lately
She took it out on God and laid her soul to hell and let the baby die
Julie's child was born without a need or a reason for being
she took it as a message from a real and distant life
Shirley gets to help her with the child though she's strung out on crack time
Shirley never knew what it was to be held in real love
Together getting high to get to mess up their night
Anything to get up so they're losing their mind
Just to get high, breaking out from this life, gotta get them a drug to get higher
Julie gets to walking out and drags the child, says "come on"
How we'll walk in the dark of the morning
Cars screaming round the corner, drugged to heaven, guns are loaded, locked in vengeance
Who shoots the child?
Watching in the ghetto is the spine and the cruel of the gang life
Sign language of the get go you get in the gang life
Fear the only law, fear is all we hear about
Feed us in the raw, fear is all we hear about
Listen, get up, quickly get up, get up
It's the answer to punishment given you
Don't give us reasons
Caught in the crossfire dying
God give us reasons
Don't give a reason, God give a reason
Why lay dead a child's life?
III. The Giving Things
That talk is just a worry and a worry in a man
That life is just a worrying and getting in a mess
That deal is just awakening his spirit to be giving him
The pleasure of the giving things within
This day is of a meeting of the manner to be borne
And like a ship you come safely to the shore of love eternal
IV. That Is
That talk is just a worry and a worry in a man
That life is just a worrying and getting in a mess
That deal is just awakening his spirit to be giving him
The pleasure of the giving things within
That word is in it, that talk is in it
This day is of a meeting of the manner to be borne
And like a ship you come safely to the shore of love eternal
That beat is of the wanting of the where you're going
That street talk is the basis of the push and shove
They never told you that you have the right
The spirit of the angel, angels sing
Shaava, shava, shava, shava
They be waiting for you, they be asking for you
We depending on you, we depending on your healing of the structure centre
Until you reach and touch your own redemption
They never give you a reason, they never give you a reason
They never give you a, give you a, give you a, give you a reason
V. All In All
All in all the wisdon call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Watching for the signals that some easily
Take it as a point of love, a reference place to where you are
Every step a step to set you free
All for the sake and the calling of light
Ask as you give, as you measure in time
All in all this will to give, this sacrament, this need to live
Take it a step to bring love easily
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Waiting for the waiting to be free
Talk is the easy send, everyone heard
Ask as you seek the clear, ask and you can
This play is of a myriad of conscience sitting
This day is of a special way of love relating
This sight is in it, this way is in it, the dream is of the positive to make you wonder
How did heaven begin?
This time is in it, this thought is in it, this light is in it
When you see, you get it
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Take it as it comes so easily
We'll be there beside the sign, this wherewithal, this will to be
Bringing all the love that's meant to be
All in all we shall be young, we shall be free, we shall be there
All in all this time is meant to be
VI. How Did Heaven Begin
These days are just a worry to the children of the world
These days are just a worry to the children of the world
How did heaven begin?
How did heaven begin?
VII. Agree To Agree
Don't imagine any way, so any fool can take away the drugs and the pressure
Asking for the level where a world divides its answers
To the gang lords of evil life, they can't show you how
Look upon this life as just a picture you are painting
There is a reason for this being
Look upon this place as just a part of all that is
It is a spiritual part of being
Live within the power, you can be the strength it is
Walk among the living, you can be the strength it is
To give, to live, this hope, comes through
It takes the trust to agree this agreement
Live for the breaking free
Live for the breaking freedom
Just let it come through come through
(Instrumental)
II. Crossfire
Julie's sick and tired of her job n' all the reasons lately
She took it out on God and laid her soul to hell and let the baby die
Julie's child was born without a need or a reason for being
she took it as a message from a real and distant life
Shirley gets to help her with the child though she's strung out on crack time
Shirley never knew what it was to be held in real love
Together getting high to get to mess up their night
Anything to get up so they're losing their mind
Just to get high, breaking out from this life, gotta get them a drug to get higher
Julie gets to walking out and drags the child, says "come on"
How we'll walk in the dark of the morning
Cars screaming round the corner, drugged to heaven, guns are loaded, locked in vengeance
Who shoots the child?
Watching in the ghetto is the spine and the cruel of the gang life
Sign language of the get go you get in the gang life
Fear the only law, fear is all we hear about
Feed us in the raw, fear is all we hear about
Listen, get up, quickly get up, get up
It's the answer to punishment given you
Don't give us reasons
Caught in the crossfire dying
God give us reasons
Don't give a reason, God give a reason
Why lay dead a child's life?
III. The Giving Things
That talk is just a worry and a worry in a man
That life is just a worrying and getting in a mess
That deal is just awakening his spirit to be giving him
The pleasure of the giving things within
This day is of a meeting of the manner to be borne
And like a ship you come safely to the shore of love eternal
IV. That Is
That talk is just a worry and a worry in a man
That life is just a worrying and getting in a mess
That deal is just awakening his spirit to be giving him
The pleasure of the giving things within
That word is in it, that talk is in it
This day is of a meeting of the manner to be borne
And like a ship you come safely to the shore of love eternal
That beat is of the wanting of the where you're going
That street talk is the basis of the push and shove
They never told you that you have the right
The spirit of the angel, angels sing
Shaava, shava, shava, shava
They be waiting for you, they be asking for you
We depending on you, we depending on your healing of the structure centre
Until you reach and touch your own redemption
They never give you a reason, they never give you a reason
They never give you a, give you a, give you a, give you a reason
V. All In All
All in all the wisdon call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Watching for the signals that some easily
Take it as a point of love, a reference place to where you are
Every step a step to set you free
All for the sake and the calling of light
Ask as you give, as you measure in time
All in all this will to give, this sacrament, this need to live
Take it a step to bring love easily
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Waiting for the waiting to be free
Talk is the easy send, everyone heard
Ask as you seek the clear, ask and you can
This play is of a myriad of conscience sitting
This day is of a special way of love relating
This sight is in it, this way is in it, the dream is of the positive to make you wonder
How did heaven begin?
This time is in it, this thought is in it, this light is in it
When you see, you get it
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Take it as it comes so easily
We'll be there beside the sign, this wherewithal, this will to be
Bringing all the love that's meant to be
All in all we shall be young, we shall be free, we shall be there
All in all this time is meant to be
VI. How Did Heaven Begin
These days are just a worry to the children of the world
These days are just a worry to the children of the world
How did heaven begin?
How did heaven begin?
VII. Agree To Agree
Don't imagine any way, so any fool can take away the drugs and the pressure
Asking for the level where a world divides its answers
To the gang lords of evil life, they can't show you how
Look upon this life as just a picture you are painting
There is a reason for this being
Look upon this place as just a part of all that is
It is a spiritual part of being
Live within the power, you can be the strength it is
Walk among the living, you can be the strength it is
To give, to live, this hope, comes through
It takes the trust to agree this agreement
Live for the breaking free
Live for the breaking freedom
Just let it come through come through
Lyrics submitted by radicaledward76
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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/

American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.

Zombie
Cranberries, The
Cranberries, The
"Zombie" is about the ethno-political conflict in Ireland. This is obvious if you know anything of the singer (Dolores O'Riordan)'s Irish heritage and understood the "1916" Easter Rising reference.
"Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
-
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over"
Laments the Warrington bomb attacks in which two children were fatally injured on March 23rd, 1993. Twelve year old Tim Parry was taken off life support with permission from his mother after five days in the hospital, virtually braindead.
"But you see it's not me
It's not my family"
References how people who are not directly involved with the violence feel about it. They are "zombies" without sympathy who refuse to take action while others suffer.

Indigo
Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men
This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman Aaron Pauley. “It's about comforting a loved one in a time of loss by telling them you feel blue, too.”
Wow, no stabs at this yet... not surprising, it's daunting. I'll start small by saying it sounds to me like a call to give, and to love. And in a greater sense, to realize that you are a part of all that is, kind of like a strand of a tapestry (they didn't say that it's just an analogy i'm making). I'm sure there's a lot more to it than that, this song is awesome and obviously incredibly complex and deep. Just thought I'd get the ball rolling.
Pezdel, thank you for your sharing!
@pezdel <br /> <br /> Karma, faith and purpose. Julie and Shirley never had it. They just copped out and became crackheads. Poor things. Julie's innocent baby was killed. It seems the baby was born without a need or a reason for being. <br /> <br /> The gang life is faithless and ruled by fear. There's no love. Just fear.<br /> <br /> Why do gangs and thugs become so cruel and faithless? Because they see the wrong in life and become resentful. They can't get past their resentment of what they have seen or experienced.<br /> <br /> It speaks about questioning God for not giving an answer to why he would allow great injustices to innocent people. That approach to living life is never going to get you anywhere but resentful. Questioning God when you know you're not going to get an answer is wasting precious time. You should accept it and move on to fulfill God's mission. <br /> <br /> Moving on to fulfill the mission is your redemption. As long as you're living, break free from your skepticism and listen to the angels calling for you. They've been waiting for you. They're depending on you to heal your spirit so you can reach and touch your own redemption. To serve. <br /> <br /> You'll never get your reason. <br /> <br /> If you apply yourself to a meaningful mission, God will give you some obvious signals you're on the path to redemption. The signals will come to you very easily.<br /> <br /> Your value is measured in your time. You don't need to be a martyr. It's okay to ask (a nice way of saying to demand something in return) as you give. <br /> <br /> All in all, your time is meant to serve a purpose. This purpose is for redemption - leaving your mark. If you earnestly work to fulfill your mission, you will leave your mark, and you will feel great!<br /> <br /> Is this the way to heaven? How did the concept of heaven come about, anyway? Of course, it is the way! Go out and leave your mark!<br /> <br /> It's either that, or stay on a lower level, but down there, you'll never see the life you're missing. You can paint a beautiful picture. Just trust there is a reason for your time and experience. Live within the power. The people with real spiritual power are among you, and you can be a part of giving, living, hoping. Faith is required to commit yourself.<br /> <br /> Do this, and you will feel more free than you can imagine. Just let it come through!<br />