No Surprises
Lucy O'Byrne Lyrics
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A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired and unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
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
Such a pretty house, such a pretty garden
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises please
Lucy O'Byrne's song No Surprises speaks to the bleak and unbearable reality of living in a society that demands so much from individuals but fails to adequately provide for them in return. The opening line, "A heart that's full up like a landfill," communicates a sense of emotional exhaustion and overwhelm. This is followed by the line, "A job that slowly kills you," which succinctly encapsulates the toll that economic systems can take on people's well-being. The mention of "bruises that won't heal" adds a physical element to the song's portrayal of suffering.
The chorus of "No alarms and no surprises" emphasizes the desire for peace and stability in a world that often feels unpredictable and hostile. The line "Bring down the government, they don't speak for us" suggests disillusionment with those in power and a longing for a better, more just society. The lyric "Such a pretty house, such a pretty garden" is an ironic echo of the refrain from the 1950s song "Home, Sweet Home", highlighting the shallow nature of many of our societal aspirations.
Overall, No Surprises is a poignant critique of the contemporary world's state of affairs, and a plea for a more equitable and humane future.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's full up like a landfill
My heart is so heavy and burdened, like a landfill that's overflowing with garbage.
A job that slowly kills you
My job is draining the life out of me, little by little, and I feel like I'm slowly dying.
Bruises that won't heal
I have wounds and scars that won't go away, both physical and emotional, and they keep hurting me.
You look so tired and unhappy
I can see that you're exhausted and miserable, like you've been carrying a heavy burden for a long time.
Bring down the government
The government doesn't represent us or care about us, so we should overthrow it and create a new system that does.
They don't, they don't speak for us
The people in power don't understand or care about our needs and desires, so we need to speak up and make our voices heard.
I'll take a quiet life
I don't want anything too exciting or loud, I just want a simple and peaceful existence.
A handshake, some carbon monoxide
All I need is a simple gesture of friendship, like a handshake, and some toxic gas to end my life.
No alarms and no surprises
I don't want anything unexpected or alarming in my life, just a steady and predictable routine.
Silent, silent
I want everything to be quiet and still, without any noise or commotion.
This is my final fit, my final bellyache with
This is my last outburst of anger and frustration, my final complaint about the world.
Such a pretty house, such a pretty garden
Everything may seem perfect and beautiful on the surface, but underneath there are still problems and imperfections.
No alarms and no surprises please
I'm begging for a life without any unpleasant shocks or surprises, just peace and tranquility.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lizkam3765
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)
@neorich59
This arrangement proves to me something I've always believed, i.e. that music is just a set of notes/chords etc and that it's possible to make a soul song sound like a country song, or a classic pop/rock song sound like an operatic aria..
I love the Radiohead original, but totally love this version too..
@beyondblack6124
I agree.
@richslaney
Me too, superb
@TheGroucho66
Wild Heart I think it's something that should be explored more. I'd love to hear punk versions of folk songs or classical versions of heavy metal songs etc etc. It reveals something about the song that wasn't noticeable before. For example Noel Gallagher, who wrote Wonderwall by Oasis performs it nowadays in the style of someone who did a bluesy version of it.
@hezekiahpabico2688
Wild Heart I get what you're saying, but music, especially songs, aren't just notes. The song structure and lyrics will easily give a song genre away if you have versatile music taste. Of course you can arrange a pop song into an operatic aria and vice versa but you can often tell the original genre. That's what I love about music.
@neorich59
Hezekiah Pabico
I don't agree :O)
Of course, in terms of "complexity," harmonically, or otherwise, it may be possible to tell whether a song comes from the Classical, or Rock traditions, for example, but there are plenty of examples of Classical pieces which use very basic structures/harmony/melody etc.
I would ask the question, regarding this piece, if you hadn't heard the original Radiohead version first, would you be able to tell it's a rock/pop song?
@adicortez302
It seems that she is not in a competition at all. It seems to me that I am watching a west-end/classical broadway show. Such poignancy in her voice. Such skills and soul.
@juliecolechin3949
So beautiful !!! Amazing control, pitch perfect, emotional, breathtaking.
The best performance EVER on the Voice !!!!
@mrpuffyeyes
Luckily for her she came second and avoided the winners curse
That rests with the dull fireman
She is by far the best talent the show has produced so far
@Affenbeinify
Wow, this is Lucys best performance so far imo, absolutely wonderful