No Surprise
Dust to Dust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say hello to your mother too
Say hello to your neighbors and everyone who abandoned you
When they search for an answer
When they ask for a reason why
Tell them to look in the mirror, see the truth they cannot deny
Did you think it was a film straight out of Hollywood
Didn't recognize the cast but the effects looked mighty good
Set them off like gasoline that misfit kid that angry teen
A slab of meat for the media
Because what you see is what you get and what you get you might regret
Deny
When you live a life of lies the punch lines no surprise
Did they know of your anger
Did they care that you hate inside
Will they wait for the stranger
When he comes will they run and hide
The lyrics to Dust to Dust's song No Surprise suggest the idea of facing one's own reality instead of falsely believing in a Hollywood-style fantasy. The song encourages the audience to be authentic and truthful, even if it means facing rejection from those who once abandoned us. The opening lines of the song ask us to greet our parents, neighbors, and those who abandoned us, which can mean those who did not believe in us or support us during difficult times. When people question the reasons for our feelings of anger or frustration, we are asked to tell them to look in the mirror and face the harsh truth that they have been denying.
The lyrics continue to suggest that our anger and frustration can ignite like gasoline, leading us to become misunderstood and judged, even by the media. The phrase "what you see is what you get" implies that people only look at the surface level and do not try to understand the underlying problems and emotions. The idea of living a life of lies brings about a conclusion that, when we deny the reality of our feelings, it will inevitably lead to insurmountable disappointment and shock.
The last few lines question if people even care about our issues, or if they are waiting for the stranger, the unknown, to come and take us away from their lives. The overall message of No Surprise is to be truthful about oneself and not to deny the inner emotions that are a part of being human.
Line by Line Meaning
Say hello to your father
Acknowledge the presence of your male parent
Say hello to your mother too
Acknowledge the presence of your female parent
Say hello to your neighbors and everyone who abandoned you
Greets those who live around you and those who have left you
When they search for an answer
When they look for an explanation
When they ask for a reason why
When they ask for the cause
Tell them to look in the mirror, see the truth they cannot deny
Advise them to examine themselves and confront the uncomfortable truth they try to evade
Did you think it was a film straight out of Hollywood
Did you believe that it is a dramatic story crafted for entertainment purpose?
Didn't recognize the cast but the effects looked mighty good
Didn't identify the characters, but the visual effects seemed substantial
Set them off like gasoline that misfit kid that angry teen
Ignited them like the flammable fuel that oddball child or enraged adolescent
A slab of meat for the media
A lifeless flesh for the press to devour
Because what you see is what you get and what you get you might regret
Because the surface-level information is all there is, and it may lead to remorse
Deny
Refute the accusations against you
When you live a life of lies the punch lines no surprise
When you exist in a delusion of falsehood, the inevitable consequence will not be unexpected
Did they know of your anger
Did anyone understand your fury?
Did they care that you hate inside
Did they show concern for the rage you conceal within yourself
Will they wait for the stranger
Will they remain for the unfamiliar figure
When he comes will they run and hide
When he appears, will they escape and evade
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind