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No Surprises
Radiohead Lyrics


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A heart that's full up like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired, unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
A handshake of carbon monoxide

And no alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
Silent, silent

This is my final fit
My final bellyache with

No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises, please

Such a pretty house
And such a pretty garden

No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Radiohead's song No Surprises are a haunting portrayal of the monotony and routine of everyday life, a life that seemingly holds no excitement or joy. The opening lines with "a heart that's full like a landfill" reads as though the singer is burdened by the weight of their life and the things that don't make them happy. The next line reads "a job that slowly kills you" and it is clear that the singer's job is not bringing them any sense of satisfaction, as is shown by the line "bruises that won't heal." The singer is visibly unhappy and looks so "tired and unhappy."


The next lines suggest that the only way out of this unhappiness is by bringing down the government, as the government doesn't speak for the people. However, the singer reconciles that this isn't a feasible solution for them and instead chooses to take a "quiet life" filled with "no alarms and no surprises" and a "handshake of carbon monoxide." This suggests a desire for a peaceful death.


The final verse talks about a "pretty house" and "pretty garden" that seemingly aren't enough for the singer. The repetition of the lines "no alarms and no surprises" and "get me out of here" reinforce the singer's longing for escape from this bleak existence, one they find neither fulfilling nor satisfying.


Line by Line Meaning

A heart that's full up like a landfill
My heart is weighed down with garbage, like a landfill


A job that slowly kills you
My job is slowly draining the life out of me


Bruises that won't heal
The emotional wounds I've suffered won't go away


You look so tired, unhappy
You appear worn out and miserable


Bring down the government
It's time to overthrow the oppressive government


They don't, they don't speak for us
The government doesn't represent or care about us


I'll take a quiet life
I long for a peaceful existence


A handshake of carbon monoxide
Death by poisoning seems like an easier way out


And no alarms and no surprises
I just want life to be predictable and without any unexpected shocks


No alarms and no surprises
I really mean it, no shocking revelations please


No alarms and no surprises
It's not a joke, I don't want any alarming or surprising news


Silent, silent
Please, just peace and quiet


This is my final fit
This is my ultimate episode of frustration


My final bellyache with
The last of my complaints, ever


No alarms and no surprises
I repeat: No sudden events or startling revelations


No alarms and no surprises
Seriously, I'm being totally straightforward


No alarms and no surprises, please
For the last time, I am begging you not to make things complicated or difficult


Such a pretty house
Everything looks great on the surface


And such a pretty garden
The exterior doesn't reveal the internal turmoil


No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
Please, no shock or turmoil. I need to leave this place


No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
I am serious about wanting no drama, I need to get out of this situation


No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)
I will do anything to avoid turmoil, so please let me leave




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@KurdtKobain_67

A heart that's full up like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired, unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
A handshake of carbon monoxide
And no alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
Silent, silent
This is my final fit
My final bellyache with
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises, please
Such a pretty house
And such a pretty garden
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)



@marcioguerr482

No surprises (lyrics):

A heart that's full up like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired, unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
A handshake of carbon monoxide
And no alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
Silent, silent
This is my final fit
My final bellyache with
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises, please
Such a pretty house
And such a pretty garden
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)



All comments from YouTube:

@michellecuriel2466

Thom: drowns

His face: ( -_- )

@tinkywinkybr9045

more like ( •_- )

@hiroshibuya8284

@@tinkywinkybr9045 perfect

@saturnstudi0s

@@tinkywinkybr9045 perfeito

@buttermusic6665

w I d e y o r k e

@RAMSES0987654321

@@tinkywinkybr9045 jajajjaj wtf

85 More Replies...

@Xukkus

My parents would play this song to me as a baby on long car rides. I've always associated it with sleep and comfort, yet I hear the melancholy overtone listening today. I'm left with a strange feeling. Not joy, not sadness; not even nostalgia. I could only describe it as raw emotion. This song simply makes me want to feel my feelings, and I think that's pretty special.

@renanfs7594

It's exactly this feeling

@AsiyaIammuah

same, you just feel brave enough to feel everything

@GigaChadL337

So, did you bring down the government?

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