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'm going to get so high
You'll never get inside
I swore I'd never turn into you
I'm closer all the time
I made it ten miles high
Can't tell my truth from my lies
I swore to god I would never turn into you
I'm getting closer... all the time
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all -
You'll never get inside
I swore I'd never turn into you
I'm closer all the time
I made it ten miles high
Can't tell my truth from my lies
I swore to god I would never turn into you
I'm getting closer... all the time
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all down
Tear it all -
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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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
I think this song is based off of becoming someone that you hate, but I don't think it's actually a literal person. I think he means someone you imagined as a bad person in a past. An idea. "I swore I'd never turn into you" meaning "I know that way isn't the right way, so I'm not going to travel down that road." And then over time, he realizes, he's somehow turned into this person. He's lost perception of what he actually is made of and what he's tried so hard to be and lied to himself that he is. (Can't tell my truth from my lies)
"I'm getting closer, all the time" basically meaning that he's starting to turn it around. He's starting to become higher than his lies.
His fears came true, and now they're spreading into things that are actually happening. "My nightmares are everywhere but inside, a living indication of every situation" "But it seems I've got neglected complications, hindered my salvation" He's completely neglected the voice screaming inside him telling him that he was going to fall. "But I try, and I try, and I try..." He keeps trying to pull it back together. Trying to find safety.
"I'm gonna get so high, You'll never get inside,"
He's running away from the mess he made, to try and repair what's left of himself.
"I swore I'd never turn into you, I'm closer all the time"
He's realized that he's becoming that someone he said he never would.
"I made it 10 miles high, Can't tell my truths from my lies"
He can't see what's really a part of who he is, and what's changed inside of him to fit the someone he hates. He doesn't know which flaws are his flaws, and which good traits are his traits.
"I swore to god I would never turn into you, I'm getting closer, All the time."
He's so angry that he let himself become this person that he hates so much.
"Tear it all down" basically means he's going to rip himself apart, just to see what's left of him.
This interpretation is kind of personal, because it's kind of what I'm going through right now, but music is entirely personal in my opinion. People form relationships with different songs, and no two relationships are the same. shrug