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.
(See through the veil)
Our perspective on life
Defines everything we reach
Most of us will aim for
All the certainties
(Beyond the veil)
Our perspective on death
Can manifest in many ways
Some of us stay fearful
'Til the end of days
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Our experience will just hamper us
(Sense without your sanity)
We've tried to conceive and intertwine circles
(Circles of your life)
Our knowledge will only hinder us
(Sense without your sanity)
We've tried to conceive and interweave the cycles of life
(Cycles of your life)
(See through the veil) death will ease us
Our perspective on birth
Defines how we honor life
An esthetic wonder
Blessed with splendid eyes
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Sense without your sanity
Perceive a new reality
Your heart is guiding you into
Blessedness, we will pull through
The longer you wait for the future, the shorter it will be
We're searching for the origin
Dig deeper, where we've never been
Carry the light (carry the light)
We should cherish the night
The questions that we cannot solve
We don't know how we should evolve
Carry the light (carry the light)
We should cherish the night
Bring us all to new heights
Our feelings are ready to warm us, to finally heat us up
Our mind will betray us and leave us in coldness, undefined
Our vision of life says what we will experience
Our vision of death defines what we will see
Beyond the veil
Our perspective on life
Defines everything we see
As we all could aim for
A sense of unity
(See through the veil)
Our perspective on death
Defines how we spend our days
Everyone interprets
Things in different ways
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Sense without your sanity
Perceive a new reality
Your heart is guiding you into
Blessedness, we will pull through
(Sense without your sanity)
A changed mentality (perceive a new reality)
Don not suppress (your heart is guiding you into)
Moments of pure blessedness
Our perspective on life
Defines everything we reach
Most of us will aim for
All the certainties
(Beyond the veil)
Our perspective on death
Can manifest in many ways
Some of us stay fearful
'Til the end of days
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Our experience will just hamper us
(Sense without your sanity)
We've tried to conceive and intertwine circles
(Circles of your life)
Our knowledge will only hinder us
(Sense without your sanity)
We've tried to conceive and interweave the cycles of life
(Cycles of your life)
(See through the veil) death will ease us
Our perspective on birth
Defines how we honor life
An esthetic wonder
Blessed with splendid eyes
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Sense without your sanity
Perceive a new reality
Your heart is guiding you into
Blessedness, we will pull through
The longer you wait for the future, the shorter it will be
We're searching for the origin
Dig deeper, where we've never been
Carry the light (carry the light)
We should cherish the night
The questions that we cannot solve
We don't know how we should evolve
Carry the light (carry the light)
We should cherish the night
Bring us all to new heights
Our feelings are ready to warm us, to finally heat us up
Our mind will betray us and leave us in coldness, undefined
Our vision of life says what we will experience
Our vision of death defines what we will see
Beyond the veil
Our perspective on life
Defines everything we see
As we all could aim for
A sense of unity
(See through the veil)
Our perspective on death
Defines how we spend our days
Everyone interprets
Things in different ways
As we believe in what we see
We all assume that this is real
Sense without your sanity
Perceive a new reality
Your heart is guiding you into
Blessedness, we will pull through
(Sense without your sanity)
A changed mentality (perceive a new reality)
Don not suppress (your heart is guiding you into)
Moments of pure blessedness
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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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/
Magical
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Great song without a single comment!
As per Mark: "Lyricwise, we can only see through the illusion when we can realise that nothing is what it seems to be, as I think that our mind tries to make us believe things that are not real."