No Surprises
Lins Lyrics
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A job that slowly kills you,
Bruises that won't heal.
You look so tired and happy,
Bring down the government,
They don't, They don't speak for us.
I'll take the quiet life,
A handshake of carbon monoxide.
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,
Such a pretty garden.
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises, please.
The lyrics of Radiohead’s “No Surprises” describe a sense of resignation towards a mundane existence characterized by the monotony of daily life. The first line of the song - “A heart that's full up like a landfill” – sets the tone for the rest of the track. It suggests that the singer’s emotions are buried deep inside and they feel weighed down by the burdens of their life.
The next line talks about a job that “slowly kills you” which highlights how the singer is unhappy with their employment and feels unfulfilled by it. This is followed by “Bruises that won't heal”, a powerful metaphor suggesting that the person has experienced difficulties in their life that have left a mark on them that won’t easily disappear.
Despite being frustrated with their life, the singer seems to find comfort in the “quiet life” and the song suggests that they may be willing to accept a life of mediocrity, even if it means “a handshake of carbon monoxide”. The chorus repeats the line “No alarms and no surprises” three times, emphasizing the desire for a life without anything unexpected interfering or upsetting the status quo.
The final lines – “Such a pretty house, Such a pretty garden” – suggest that while the singer may feel trapped in their current situation, they still manage to find beauty in their surroundings. Overall, No Surprises' lyrics paint a picture of someone who has grown tired of the world around them but doesn't necessarily think they can escape it, and instead desperately seeks comfort in the familiar.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's full up like a landfill,
Feeling emotionally burdened, like carrying a landfill's worth of weight inside.
A job that slowly kills you,
Working in an environment that drains you and takes a toll on your health.
Bruises that won't heal.
Lingering emotional pain that doesn't seem to go away.
You look so tired and happy,
Appearing content on the surface despite feeling worn out and exhausted.
Bring down the government,
Expressing a desire for change at a governmental level.
They don't, They don't speak for us.
Feeling unrepresented by those in power.
I'll take the quiet life,
Preferring a simple, peaceful existence.
A handshake of carbon monoxide.
A feeling of finality, as if accepting death willingly.
No alarms and no surprises,
Desiring a life without chaos or unexpected events that could derail stability.
Silent.
Be at peace with no outside noise or distraction.
This is my final fit,
Expressing the end of one's emotional capacity and willingness to continue striving for a happier existence.
My final bellyache with
Highlighting a physical manifestation of the exhaustion and disillusionment they feel internally.
No alarms and no surprises,
Continuing to view a simple, stable existence as the ideal.
Such a pretty house,
Commenting on the aesthetics or facade of a home or lifestyle.
Such a pretty garden.
Commenting on the superficial beauty of surroundings despite internal turmoil.
No alarms and no surprises, please.
Repeating the desire for a stable, uneventful life and rejecting any potential disturbances.
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