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.
Jesus, help me find my proper place
Jesus, help me find my proper place
Help me in my weakness
'Cos I'm falling out of grace
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus, help me find my proper place
Help me in my weakness
'Cos I'm falling out of grace
Jesus
Jesus
Lyrics submitted by capitol76
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Coming down from heroin makes one feel the need for redemption. Any savior works, especially the forgiving kind.
One of my favorite VU songs though I could never really explain why because it's so simple. Only Lou Reed could take a song about religion and make it so fundamental. Jesus didn't want frills, he wanted people to come and worship god as they are. That's what Lou was tryin to show here.
I lost my virginity to this song
how was it?
awkward yet enlightening
I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. I think you spend numerous effort and time updating your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am taking a look head to reading new articles.<br /> <a href="dermatend.com/natural_mole_removal.htm">mole removal cream</a>
I don't think he's asking for forgiveness or redemption. He's just asking for direction. I doubt this is about drugs, or any specific event.
Lou may not be religious, and personally, I don't think this is really even about religion; it's about wanting direction and feeling lost and helpless
This is a great song thats very pretty and probably the song off of "The Velvet Underground" that first caught my attention. This song actually reminds me of Meddle-era Pink Floyd, of all people. I'm not really sure why, but i think its the opening guitar line. The lyrics are incredibly straightforward and lead me (and everyone else, im sure) to wonder if there is a hidden or deeper meaning than is apparent. It doesnt seem ironic though.
Always reminds me of the old folk songs. Yes, Lou Reed was Jewish (or at least raised Jewish) but look at all the old "pre-reborn" bob dylan songs that have Christian overtones.
I always found this song to be somewhat sincere. I agree more with the ideas of Wonder Ned - It seems to me like a rock bottom situation. Jesus, where the fuck do I go from here, I've spent my life rejecting you and currently I need some guidance. I'm very likely projecting, but I certainly feel like this song represents that for me. Almost like a last resort request, and very profoundly so. Aren't we all trying to find our 'proper' fucking place. Not a conventionally proper place, but more the idea of having a 'right' place to go to, a place were we belong. There I said it, in a borderline condescending and obvious way so sue me you fucking bastards.
@horatiodune no need for such filth on this site.
I always found this song to be somewhat sincere. I agree more with the ideas of Wonder Ned - It seems to me like a rock bottom situation. Jesus, where the fuck do I go from here, I've spent my life rejecting you and currently I need some guidance. I'm very likely projecting, but I certainly feel like this song represents that for me. Almost like a last resort request, and very profoundly so. Aren't we all trying to find our 'proper' fucking place. Not a conventionally proper place, but more the idea of having a 'right' place to go to, a place were we belong. There I said it, in a borderline condescending and obvious way so sue me you fucking bastards.
@horatiodune no need for such blasphemy on this site.
i always thought this song seemed out of place from the rest of their songs. and then i read somewhere that lou reed was jewish. haha. im not just making that up am i?
This song has a comforting kid of air to it... the melody is really like a lullaby, the perfect song to be sung to sleep.