Nadler writes strange, yet classic, melancholy songs. Her voice (often bathed in a wash of reverb) is what people immediately respond to in her music, described by the popular online music website Pitchfork as "a voice you would follow straight into Hades." She is known for her dreamy, atmospheric music, that although rooted in some folk traditions, manages to stay modern through use of electronics and effects.
Many describe Nadler's songs as having American Gothic leanings; her stories often take place in an imagined, idealistic time with a cast of characters of her own creation. Yet, in recent years, it has emerged that the characters are less make believe than listeners thought and are based on real people, and their real lives. Her links to American Gothic are reinforced by "Annabelle Lee", the last song on her debut album, Ballads of Living and Dying, which puts the poem of the same title by Edgar Allan Poe to a musical backing. Singing in a haunting mezzo-soprano, the foundation of her songs are her delicate six string guitar, often accompanied by variety of instruments, ranging from organ to theramin to electric guitar.
Marissa Nadler released her first album, Ballads of Living and Dying, on Eclipse Records in 2004; her follow-up, The Saga of Mayflower May, was released in July 2005. Both records were distributed in the US by Eclipse Records, and by the UK label Beautiful Happiness in Europe. Eclipse Records' Ed Hardy is said to have "discovered" Marissa Nadler, and also bringing her into the underground music family. A Welsh Label, My Kung Fu records, released a 7" Diamond Heart / Leather Made Shoes in 2006 - two versions of tracks off of her third record. Marissa Nadler released her third record on Peacefrog Records (Nouvelle Vague, José González) in Europe, Songs III: Bird on the Water, on March 12th 2007. The album was released in the US and Canada on August 12th by Kemado Records and received glowing praise from the underground and independent music community. She is currently a member of the Kemado Records, and her next record is out October 14th, 2008.
no surprises
Marissa Nadler (Feat. Black Hole Infinity) 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
A handshake of carbon monoxide
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 of Marissa Nadler's "No Surprises" are a lamentation of a weary soul longing for a simple and peaceful life. The verses paint a picture of someone who feels like they are drowning under the weight of the world - a heart full like a landfill, a draining job, and mounting bruises that refuse to heal. The singer observes that the people in power do not speak for them and calls for the government to be brought down, revealing a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo.
The chorus of the song is a plea for a life devoid of alarms and surprises; a quiet existence that is free from external pressures and unsettling events. The reference to a "handshake of carbon monoxide" indicates that the singer would prefer to go peacefully rather than be surprised by an abrupt end. The final lines express a desire for a beautiful house and garden but without the burdens that come with it. Overall, the song seems to capture the feeling of helplessness and disillusionment of many people during periods of great societal upheaval.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's full up like a landfill
Feeling overwhelmed, trapped, and weighed down with emotional baggage.
A job that slowly kills you
Feeling stuck in a career that is unfulfilling and draining.
Bruises that won't heal
Lingering emotional wounds and scars that won't go away.
You look so tired, unhappy
Appearance of exhaustion, discontentment, and sadness on your face.
Bring down the government
Expressing frustration with the current state of politics and desiring change.
They don't, they don't speak for us
Believing that politicians are not representing the needs and wants of the people.
I'll take a quiet life
Preferring a simple and peaceful existence over a stressful and hectic one.
A handshake of carbon monoxide
Choosing to end one's life through suicide by inhaling a toxic gas.
No alarms and no surprises
Desiring a life that is predictable, stable, and free of any unexpected events or obstacles.
Silent
Quietness and stillness that comes with death.
This is my final fit
Acknowledging that this is the last struggle and pain before dying by suicide.
My final bellyache with
The last physical discomfort and pain experienced before death.
No alarms and no surprises please
A repeated plea for a calm, controlled, and predictable exit from life.
Such a pretty house
Reflecting on the beauty of the physical world around us.
And such a pretty garden
Appreciating the beauty of nature and the natural world.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mmimtc
one of my all-time radiohead favourtie songs and this is a great video, i'm very happy to have met the director today!
@Tristheim
I applaud her covers. This and Famous Blue Raincoat are just balm for the soul. What a wonderful human she is.
@boycewebb7445
Gorgeous cover.
@ryancgreenwood
brilliant
@fetchmemyaxe
She has a truly haunting Voice. I can't put my finger who she sounds like, but perhaps that's a good thing. I love the whole breathiness of it all.
@coskun-ahmet
Both song and video are speechless
@thebrowniesaur22
listened to 1 song...downloading all her albums!
@contigo121
great photography on this video in perfect harmony with this song interpreted so well!
@KaiDucLuong
@contigo121 Thanks a lot for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the harmony between the video and song!
@flioutsiou
hypnotizing