No Alarms and No Surprises
Radiohead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Radiohead's song No Surprises are a haunting portrayal of the monotony and routine of everyday life, a life that seemingly holds no excitement or joy. The opening lines with "a heart that's full like a landfill" reads as though the singer is burdened by the weight of their life and the things that don't make them happy. The next line reads "a job that slowly kills you" and it is clear that the singer's job is not bringing them any sense of satisfaction, as is shown by the line "bruises that won't heal." The singer is visibly unhappy and looks so "tired and unhappy."


The next lines suggest that the only way out of this unhappiness is by bringing down the government, as the government doesn't speak for the people. However, the singer reconciles that this isn't a feasible solution for them and instead chooses to take a "quiet life" filled with "no alarms and no surprises" and a "handshake of carbon monoxide." This suggests a desire for a peaceful death.


The final verse talks about a "pretty house" and "pretty garden" that seemingly aren't enough for the singer. The repetition of the lines "no alarms and no surprises" and "get me out of here" reinforce the singer's longing for escape from this bleak existence, one they find neither fulfilling nor satisfying.


Line by Line Meaning

A heart that's full up like a landfill
My heart is weighed down with garbage, like a landfill


A job that slowly kills you
My job is slowly draining the life out of me


Bruises that won't heal
The emotional wounds I've suffered won't go away


You look so tired, unhappy
You appear worn out and miserable


Bring down the government
It's time to overthrow the oppressive government


They don't, they don't speak for us
The government doesn't represent or care about us


I'll take a quiet life
I long for a peaceful existence


A handshake of carbon monoxide
Death by poisoning seems like an easier way out


And no alarms and no surprises
I just want life to be predictable and without any unexpected shocks


No alarms and no surprises
I really mean it, no shocking revelations please


No alarms and no surprises
It's not a joke, I don't want any alarming or surprising news


Silent, silent
Please, just peace and quiet


This is my final fit
This is my ultimate episode of frustration


My final bellyache with
The last of my complaints, ever


No alarms and no surprises
I repeat: No sudden events or startling revelations


No alarms and no surprises
Seriously, I'm being totally straightforward


No alarms and no surprises, please
For the last time, I am begging you not to make things complicated or difficult


Such a pretty house
Everything looks great on the surface


And such a pretty garden
The exterior doesn't reveal the internal turmoil


No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
Please, no shock or turmoil. I need to leave this place


No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here)
I am serious about wanting no drama, I need to get out of this situation


No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)
I will do anything to avoid turmoil, so please let me leave




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@astral2151

The stages of grief regarding a dystopian society.

0:25 - shock/denial. Describing society's effects on the heart and body. Also a state of realization.

0:51 - anger. A desire to dismantle what's causing the narrator pain, or what he thinks it is.

1:17 - bargaining. The narrator wants to bargain with what's causing him pain by wanting a quiet life with no alarms/surprises (leaving him alone in a loud unpredictable world; wants predictability & comfort over reality).

Water rises up to 'sedate' him when he bargains.

2:00 - Depression. "My last fit and belly ache". Narrator goes into a state of depression that's metaphorically represented by the water submerging him (can be interpreted by taking something that makes him forget his reality/circumstances).

2:56 - acceptance. Narrator rises from the sedation and views his reality from a different perspective "such a pretty house and garden", smiling. Night & day difference from the first verse. However the voice in the background repeats "get me out here" so it's likely he just drowned out his psyche, hence the representation of water.

Last thing i want to point out is notice that he's in a bubble looking at a screen (reflected off the glass). Represent's a person's enclosed worldview through what media they consume, whether it be television or on your phone. Song and music video are a genius artistic representation of people creating their own realities and going through stages of grief over and over again because they cannot find any true meaning/satisfaction; encapsulated in a bubble, waiting for the inevitable rise of water to temporarily drown/sedate them again to make it all seem okay. A loop of internal chaos.



@eirinikaratefighter5

I don't know where I should begin with.
Ever since i discovered the song, i remember it when i am sad.
I struggle with depression.
I have a lot of regrets.
Most of the memories of the past are negative.
I know that i am never going to be a priority to anyone.
I just want to disappear.
Time passes fast.
I just exist. I am not living.
Whoever reads this, I am proud of you.



@RyanLivesForGodAlways

God loves y’all, have a great night or day and be safe, Jesus is King! read the Bible! and Give thanks to God! And credit to God also! and tell others about the Lord our God! the Most High! Amen!

Proverbs 24:34 - and proverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man. Amen!

Proverbs 22:24 - 25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 
or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared. Amen!



@RyanLivesForGodAlways

@@welsyia God loves y’all, have a great night or day and be safe, Jesus is King! read the Bible! and Give thanks to God! And credit to God also! and tell others about the Lord our God! the Most High! Amen!

Proverbs 24:34 - and proverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man. Amen!

Proverbs 22:24 - 25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 
or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared. Amen!



@RyanLivesForGodAlways

@@nobodynose123 God loves y’all, have a great night or day and be safe, Jesus is King! read the Bible! and Give thanks to God! And credit to God also! and tell others about the Lord our God! the Most High! Amen!

Proverbs 24:34 - and proverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man. Amen!

Proverbs 22:24 - 25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 
or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared. Amen!



@shriooo

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)



@FrostTheBlueDemon

Lyrics in case someone hasn’t posted it

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
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 (get me out of here)
Please



@gelialba

🖤LYRICS

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)



All comments from YouTube:

@imcooked33

i'm leaving this comment here, so when someone likes it in the future i'll get reminded by the song i used to play when i was at my lowest

@Isaiah2225

No alarms to no suprises😢

@annamaruss

reminder🥹🩷

@Chimpmusic79

Get reminded

@elora_8839

i do too, and reminder

@lam.haphuon9

we feel you <3

295 More Replies...

@lalukrisyandi1998

nothing hurts more than your favorite person turning into a life lesson.

@SA-lz1vx

😢

@Kahnwald_12

Fvck man, Don't make me remember her again

@Rio.-qs5it

its not on our plan but it happens turning the other plans to lesson

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