The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(guy)
It's getting hard,
I'm getting weak;
I have to tell myself to breathe,
and I don't know when.
Another day, another week, another hour,
and I may be completely broken.
It's not as easy when you're on the other end,
and had I known, I would've done things different.
But I'm still recovering...
(girl)
Let's slow it down, put on the breaks.
Don't even know your last name or all your favorites.
Trust me now, I've done this wrong so many times,
So many songs, don't make me prove it.
(both)
It's not as easy when your on the other end.
And had I known I would've done things different.
But I'm still recovering...
(girl)
It's getting hard. I'm getting weak;
I have to tell myself to breathe...
(strings)
(both)
Its getting hard, I'm getting weak,
I have to tell myself to breathe...
It's getting hard,
I'm getting weak;
I have to tell myself to breathe,
and I don't know when.
Another day, another week, another hour,
and I may be completely broken.
It's not as easy when you're on the other end,
and had I known, I would've done things different.
But I'm still recovering...
(girl)
Let's slow it down, put on the breaks.
Don't even know your last name or all your favorites.
Trust me now, I've done this wrong so many times,
So many songs, don't make me prove it.
(both)
It's not as easy when your on the other end.
And had I known I would've done things different.
But I'm still recovering...
(girl)
It's getting hard. I'm getting weak;
I have to tell myself to breathe...
(strings)
(both)
Its getting hard, I'm getting weak,
I have to tell myself to breathe...
Lyrics submitted by SuchaFuckingLadyy
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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.
This song is just beautiful in every way imaginable. From the lyrics to the vocals to the instramental; it's perfection found in chaos. To me, this song is about learned from your past relationships, and not only knowing more, but applying it to new relationships. It's about slowing things down, and people actually getting to know one another, and relating as opposed to jumping in head first, not knowing if its too shallow or if its deep enough. It's classic, "Of, if I only knew then, what I know now."
It's about being absolutly torn down, then meeting someone knew, and you get the sensation of not being able to breathe again. You feel yourself falling in love but you say, "wait, I've been here before. I know all about this, so this time, I'm going to fix what I couldn't last time." i love it.