Manoukian was immediately taken by her wonderful and unique voice and produced her debut album Yellow Daffodils for her, which has been released by Sony Music.
no surprises
Malia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
With 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
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises please
The lyrics to Malia's song "No Surprises" speak to the feeling of being disillusioned and exhausted by a stagnant, unfulfilling life. The first verse describes a life that feels suffocating and painful, with a full heart that's likened to a landfill, a job that's slowly killing the singer, and bruises that won't heal. The second verse, however, takes a more political turn, with the singer expressing a desire to "bring down the government" because they don't represent or speak for ordinary people. The chorus is a kind of plea for peace and stability - the singer wants no alarms or surprises, no additional stress or upheaval in their life. They're content with a simple life, even if that means living in a kind of stagnant, static existence.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a person who feels stuck and trapped, but who also recognizes the ways in which larger societal structures contribute to their unhappiness. The desire for a calm, predictable existence is understandable in this context - the world outside is already chaotic and difficult to navigate, so the singer wants to minimize that chaos in their personal life as much as possible.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's full up like a landfill
Feeling emotionally burdened and overwhelmed with the weight of accumulated problems and worries.
A job that slowly kills you
Being stuck in a monotonous, draining job that sucks the life out of you and leads to a slow degradation of your health and well-being.
Bruises that won't heal
Mental and physical scars that refuse to fade away despite best efforts to move on and heal.
You look so tired-unhappy
Appearing exhausted, drained, and unhappy with the current state of affairs – both personally and in society as a whole.
Bring down the government
Urging for radical social and political change, with the government seen as a problematic and ineffective institution that fails to address people's concerns and desires.
They don't, they don't speak for us
Rejecting the idea that those in power truly represent and speak for those they are supposed to serve, with a sense of disillusionment and resentfulness towards authority figures.
I'll take a quiet life
Desiring a simpler, more peaceful and uneventful existence that is free from the constant chaos, noise and struggles of contemporary society.
A handshake of carbon monoxide
A reference to the toxic, self-destructive nature of modern industrial society, where even friendly gestures and exchanges are tainted by pollution, environmental damage and health hazards.
With no alarms and no surprises
Requesting a life that is stable and predictable, without sudden shocks, disruptions or unexpected events that can throw one off balance and cause anxiety and distress.
Silent, silent
Emphasizing the importance of silence, calmness and stillness as a necessary antidote to the constant noise and stimulation of modern life.
This is my final fit
Suggesting a final bout of desperation, frustration and anger at the state of things, before potentially giving up or moving on entirely.
My final bellyache
A metaphorical ailment that symbolizes the culmination of all the negative experiences, emotions and grievances that one has had to endure, and which one wishes to finally be rid of.
Such a pretty house
Commenting on the superficial appearance and facade of contemporary life, where everything is made to seem pretty, clean and orderly from the outside, but hides deeper issues and problems underneath.
And such a pretty garden
Further emphasizing the idea that appearances can be deceiving, with even the natural beauty of a garden serving to hide and obscure deeper issues and concerns beneath the surface.
No alarms and no surprises please
Reiterating the plea for a life that is peaceful, predictable and free from sudden disruptions and shocks – a consistent desire throughout the song.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP SELWAY, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind