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.
Do you worry that you're not liked?
How long 'til you break
You're happy 'cause you smile
But how much can you fake?
An ordinary boy, an ordinary name
But ordinary's just not good enough today
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and
Whether or not you should hate
Are you worried about your faith?
Kneel down and obey
You're happy you're in love
You need someone to hate
An ordinary girl, an ordinary waist
But ordinary's just not good enough today
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and whether or not you should hate
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway
How long 'til you break
You're happy 'cause you smile
But how much can you fake?
An ordinary boy, an ordinary name
But ordinary's just not good enough today
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and
Whether or not you should hate
Are you worried about your faith?
Kneel down and obey
You're happy you're in love
You need someone to hate
An ordinary girl, an ordinary waist
But ordinary's just not good enough today
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and whether or not you should hate
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway
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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.
I was really into this song when I started seriously doubting my religon that I was deeply immersed in. I related Superman being dead to everything I once believed in as a total fabrication. And I saw the false happiness as the blind, image-conscious behavior I was living as a member of my church. The ordinary name and ordinary waist deal I related to problems with eating disorders and low self-esteem. I guess I was really off on the true meaning of the song, but that's the great thing about music: anyone can bring their own interpretation into it. Who knows, maybe I'm just stupid.
@swellmelmel I don't think you're stupid. I think you make a lot of sense. In the song he says, "Now you're worried about your faith, kneel down and obey." To me it's a person, the storyteller, realizing that he/she is just being told what to think and to just kneel down and pray and obey what they're being told and sold and fed. They realize everything they've been told and taught is wrong or a lie or could be wrong, and they are "worried about their faith". They lost their faith and realize that Superman / God / their Savior is dead, or everything they believed in is dead or wrong. Self doubt, insecurity, and not knowing if everything is true or a lie: things that a lot of people struggle with during their lifetime. And I agree with you, that's a great thing about music and lyrics-- anyone can bring their own personal interpretation to it.