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.
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You try so hard to get somewhere
They put you down and cut your hair
They're saying you're no good, they just don't care
You're trying to fly, you get nowhere
You get no air, you're getting aware
You get no air, you get no air
You get no air, you get no air
You're getting aware, you're getting aware
You get nowhere, you get nowhere
You get nowhere, you're getting aware
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You want so hard to get somewhere
With trees and flowers growing there
If you can't make it you're going spare
You're trying to fly, you get nowhere
You're getting aware, you get no air
You get no air, you get nowhere
You're getting aware, you get nowhere
You want so hard to get somewhere
You're getting nowhere
You're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You try so hard to get somewhere
They put you down and cut your hair
They're saying you're no good, they just don't care
You're trying to fly, you get nowhere
You get no air, you're getting aware
You get no air, you get no air
You get no air, you get no air
You're getting aware, you're getting aware
You get nowhere, you get nowhere
You get nowhere, you're getting aware
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You shouldn't do that, should do that
You want so hard to get somewhere
With trees and flowers growing there
If you can't make it you're going spare
You're trying to fly, you get nowhere
You're getting aware, you get no air
You get no air, you get nowhere
You're getting aware, you get nowhere
You want so hard to get somewhere
You're getting nowhere
You're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
We're getting nowhere
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned, edited by wildandfree
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No Surprises
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..story of my life...!