no surprises
Radiohead Lyrics
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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)
No Surprises by Radiohead is a commentary on the tedious and demotivating nature of daily life, and the desire to escape from it all. The opening lines paint a picture of a heart that is "full up like a landfill", symbolizing the feeling of being weighed down and overwhelmed by a job that is "slowly killing" the individual. They have "bruises that won't heal" which could be the physical or emotional impact of the job. The person looks "tired, unhappy" and is desperate for change, thus their call to action to "bring down the government" because they feel they are not being represented.
The chorus, with its repetition of "no alarms and no surprises", suggests the individual's yearning for a predictable and tranquil life. They long for "a quiet life" and prefer a "handshake of carbon monoxide" as an escape. This line is jarring as it suggests that someone would choose carbon monoxide over their own life. The outro of the song is poignant as the singer observes a "pretty house" and "pretty garden", perhaps juxtaposing it with the life they currently find themselves stuck in.
Overall, No Surprises paints a dreary picture of a life filled with monotony and unfulfilled dreams. The singer is hoping for a break from it all but ultimately realizes their only way out is to end everything.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's full up like a landfill
Feeling overwhelmed and burdened with emotions that have been building up like garbage in a landfill.
A job that slowly kills you
Being stuck in a job that's draining and soul-sucking, taking away more than it gives.
Bruises that won't heal
The emotional and physical scars of past hurts and traumas that refuse to go away and continue to cause pain.
You look so tired, unhappy
Not being able to hide the exhaustion and misery of living a life that's not fulfilling.
Bring down the government
A call to take down the system of power and control that oppresses and manipulates the masses.
They don't, they don't speak for us
Those in power do not represent or care about the common people whom they are supposed to serve.
I'll take a quiet life
A longing for a simple and peaceful existence, away from the chaos and noise of the world.
A handshake of carbon monoxide
A metaphorical pact with death, choosing a slow and quiet end through suffocation and poisoning by carbon monoxide.
And no alarms and no surprises
A desire for a predictable and stable life, free from sudden shocks or unexpected events that can disrupt one's equilibrium.
Silent, silent
Further emphasis on the need for quietness and calmness.
This is my final fit
Acknowledging the end of the road, the last struggle to make things work before giving up.
My final bellyache
The last complaint or annoyance before accepting one's fate.
Such a pretty house
Ironically referring to a beautiful facade that hides the emptiness and superficiality of the life lived inside.
And such a pretty garden
Another facade, a symbol of a perfect life that doesn't exist.
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
A final plea for freedom and escape from the dullness and emptiness of the current existence.
No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
Repeating the plea, emphasizing the urgency and desperation of the situation.
No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)
The final cry for help, begging for a life without fear or shock, a life that feels alive and meaningful.
Lyrics © 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
@jasonchristopheryang4811
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)
@gelialba
🖤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)
@Yi18856
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)
@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
@neilfan1016
this song sounds like despair, no hope left just acceptance. it feels like what it feels like to be absoloutly crushed, tears streaming down your face but somehow everything is ok
@itdoesntmatteranymore3550
This!!!!
@BlackAlbino2000
It definitely brings up emotions of sadness and despair and your life being crushed . I always thought it’s about the realization that these socially accepted conforming norms of what we see as having a happy life are merely going to make you more miserable and dull and end up drowning you slowly till your time’s up . If I’d put it very direct , a life lived without surprises is like slow suicide but if you seek further than these norms you get curious about what really matters in your life and this brings you true happiness .
@almightcarrot7481
L BOZO