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 can love you desperately, though your love ain't guaranteed
Oh, I wish you knew the deal, gotta learn from far away
And I simply needed space
Space for me to be, and I think you need it too
Though I know you call me selfish for assuming
I did this for you too,
You still got me around your finger
Even though I'm far away
Please, believe me when I say!
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make,
I only make for you!
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
Oh, you say you hate me now,
And you burn me with your words
Callin' me a fool
Saying that I've fucked up
Everything, and you'll never forgive me
Though I'm doin' this for you
Baby, can't you see if there is such a thing
Of loving someone so much that you need
To give them time to let them breathe
But you don't understand,
I wish you understood
Oh, I hope one day you do
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make,
I only make for you
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
Believe in you, believe in me
We're meant to be together
I told you weren't lyin', I know you aren't relyin'
And now I am supplyin' you the time and space
To let you grow into the person
That I know, that I know you could be
And I can be one too
And I'll come back to you,
And I am ready for you, baby I am ready for you now
I'm not ready for you now
Please don't hate me
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make, I'm gonna make for you!
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
I promise, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise baby, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise baby, one day, I'll come back to you
Oh, I wish you knew the deal, gotta learn from far away
And I simply needed space
Space for me to be, and I think you need it too
Though I know you call me selfish for assuming
I did this for you too,
You still got me around your finger
Even though I'm far away
Please, believe me when I say!
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make,
I only make for you!
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
Oh, you say you hate me now,
And you burn me with your words
Callin' me a fool
Saying that I've fucked up
Everything, and you'll never forgive me
Though I'm doin' this for you
Baby, can't you see if there is such a thing
Of loving someone so much that you need
To give them time to let them breathe
But you don't understand,
I wish you understood
Oh, I hope one day you do
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make,
I only make for you
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
Believe in you, believe in me
We're meant to be together
I told you weren't lyin', I know you aren't relyin'
And now I am supplyin' you the time and space
To let you grow into the person
That I know, that I know you could be
And I can be one too
And I'll come back to you,
And I am ready for you, baby I am ready for you now
I'm not ready for you now
Please don't hate me
Everything I do,
I'm gonna think of you
Don't know what else to do
You got me, you got me, baby
Everything I make, I'm gonna make for you!
Baby, be patient for me
And please don't fall in love with someone new
I promise, one day I'll come back for you
I promise, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise baby, one day, I'll come back to you
I promise baby, one day, I'll come back to you
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More Featured Meanings
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
She's telling this guy that she can't be with him right now, she isn't the right place for a relationship even though she wants to be. She can only hope that while she's away this guy will wait patiently for her and keep his heart open for her and not fall in love with someone else.