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.
Welcome, one and all, to the amazing Dr. Pibb's
He'll make a penis from a buttock and a woman from a rib
And if you've lost your follicles and wish that you were dead
He'll take hairs from your testicles and sew them on your head
Welcome, one and all, to the astounding Dr. Pibb's
He'll convince you that you need to change, he's really rather glib
He'll nip and tuck and fold and turn you into someone else,
But rest assured the Doctor's had no surgery himself
He turns your fingers into toes
How he does it, no one knows
Just close your eyes and strike a pose
While Dr. Pibb works on your nose...
Welcome, one and all, to the impressive Dr. Pibb's
He'll reach inside his leather bag, it's always full of tricks
He'll give you a tummy tuck so all the boys will want to fuck
And he'll give you an anal bleach, so all the boys will want your peach...
Welcome, one and all, to the breathtaking Dr. Pibb's
He disarms you with a smile as he fills your head with fibs
You'll have to take off all your clothes so he can touch your breasts
He'll carve away a pound of flesh so you can look your best
He'll offer you a pinch of hope
He'll turn your body fat to soap
Just close your eyes and strike a pose
While Dr. Pibb takes off your clothes...
Beware, my son, the crooked surgeon
He'll cut you like a piece of sturgeon
He'll turn you back into a virgin,
You'll wonder what he's really purging...
He'll pummel 'til you're black and blue
He'll turn your thighs to yellow goo
He'll leave you with a scar or 'two'
You won't be able to talk or chew...
A burn victim turned up today
But she could not afford to pay
Yet Dr. Pibb, he would not sway
So Dr. Pibb turned her away...
He'll make a penis from a buttock and a woman from a rib
And if you've lost your follicles and wish that you were dead
He'll take hairs from your testicles and sew them on your head
Welcome, one and all, to the astounding Dr. Pibb's
He'll convince you that you need to change, he's really rather glib
He'll nip and tuck and fold and turn you into someone else,
But rest assured the Doctor's had no surgery himself
He turns your fingers into toes
How he does it, no one knows
Just close your eyes and strike a pose
While Dr. Pibb works on your nose...
Welcome, one and all, to the impressive Dr. Pibb's
He'll reach inside his leather bag, it's always full of tricks
He'll give you a tummy tuck so all the boys will want to fuck
And he'll give you an anal bleach, so all the boys will want your peach...
Welcome, one and all, to the breathtaking Dr. Pibb's
He disarms you with a smile as he fills your head with fibs
You'll have to take off all your clothes so he can touch your breasts
He'll carve away a pound of flesh so you can look your best
He'll offer you a pinch of hope
He'll turn your body fat to soap
Just close your eyes and strike a pose
While Dr. Pibb takes off your clothes...
Beware, my son, the crooked surgeon
He'll cut you like a piece of sturgeon
He'll turn you back into a virgin,
You'll wonder what he's really purging...
He'll pummel 'til you're black and blue
He'll turn your thighs to yellow goo
He'll leave you with a scar or 'two'
You won't be able to talk or chew...
A burn victim turned up today
But she could not afford to pay
Yet Dr. Pibb, he would not sway
So Dr. Pibb turned her away...
Lyrics submitted by The_Passenger
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I think it's about time that someone wrote an anti-plastic surgery song. To my mind it's the only one. Strange seeing as it's a serious topic and so relevant today! To me this song says - don't do it!!