No One Knows
The Vaccines Lyrics


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We get some rules to follow
That and this, these and those
No one knows
We get these pills to swallow
How they stick in your throat?
Tastes like gold
Oh, what you do to me?
No one knows

And I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

I journey through the desert
Of the mind with no hope
I follow
I drift along the ocean
Dead lifeboat in the sun
End come undone
Pleasantly caving in
I come undonе

And I realize you're minе
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

Heaven smiles above me
What a gift here below
But no one knows




Gift that you give to me
No one knows

Overall Meaning

The Vaccines' song No One Knows is a lyrically dense track that paints a picture of a person's journey through life, constantly being faced with rules to follow, pills to swallow, and feeling lost in the desert of their mind. The song begins with the person acknowledging the rules we're given to follow and the unknown quality of our experiences. The pills they swallow represent the difficulties and struggles they deal with and how they can be comforting yet difficult to swallow at the same time. The taste of the pill is described as "tastes like gold," which paradoxically suggests that having to endure hardships can lead to a valuable outcome.


In the chorus, the person speaks to a lover, realizing that they are theirs. They describe themselves as a "fool" for not realizing it sooner, perhaps suggesting that the relationship has gone through some rocky moments, but they are grateful to have found love. The second verse describes the person's journey through the "desert of the mind" and feeling lost. They follow along with life, drifting aimlessly like a dead lifeboat in the ocean, until they finally come undone. This moment of letting go leads to a feeling of relief, a sense of giving in that brings them peace.


The song ends with the person acknowledging the gift of love they've been given but suggests that nobody knows the depth of the love they share. This final line of the song brings the idea of the unknown back to the forefront, suggesting that there is always an element of mystery and unknowing in life and relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

We get some rules to follow
We receive instructions and guidelines to adhere to


That and this, these and those
Those instructions may include specific details and distinctions between things


No one knows
Despite being given these rules, the true reasoning and purpose behind them remain unknown


We get these pills to swallow
Along with guidelines, we are given medicine to take


How they stick in your throat?
These pills can be difficult to take and uncomfortable to ingest


Tastes like gold
Despite the less than desirable effects, these pills may provide valuable benefits


Oh, what you do to me?
The impact of these pills on the person taking them can be significant


No one knows
Despite this impact, it may not be fully understood by others


And I realize you're mine
The singer comes to the realization that they have a certain possession or hold over someone/something


Indeed, a fool of mine
The realization may be belated and viewed as foolish in hindsight


I journey through the desert
The singer embarks on a difficult and harsh journey


Of the mind with no hope
This journey may be an emotional one, with little optimism for success


I follow, I drift along the ocean
Despite the difficulty of the journey, the singer presses on


Dead lifeboat in the sun
They encounter obstacles that may seem impossible to overcome


End come undone
Despite their efforts, they may not be able to reach their desired outcome


Pleasantly caving in
The singer may come to a peaceful acceptance of their fate


I come undone
Despite their attempt at peace, they unravel emotionally


Heaven smiles above me
The beauty and good in life can still be seen despite the difficult journey


What a gift here below
These moments of happiness and joy are the true gifts in life


But no one knows
Despite the existence of these gifts, others may not fully understand or appreciate them


Gift that you give to me
The happiness and joy may come from a specific person or relationship


No one knows
Despite the significance of this person/relationship, outsiders may not comprehend the depth of it




Writer(s): Mark Lanegan, Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri

Contributed by Isabella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Samantha Official Channel

We get some rules to follow
That and this, these and those
No one knows
We get these pills to swallow
How they stick in your throat?
Tastes like gold
Oh, what you do to me?
No one knows

And I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

I journey through the desert
Of the mind with no hope
I follow
I drift along the ocean
Dead lifeboat in the sun
End come undone
Pleasantly caving in
I come undonе

And I realize you're minе
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

Heaven smiles above me
What a gift here below
But no one knows
Gift that you give to me
No one knows



All comments from YouTube:

Katya Art

this cover sounds so sexy and enchanting — this is the vaccines brand

João Rodrigues

@DigitalDaffodil 2020 the orginial it´s the original 100% fucking sweet song, but like this girl said this other thing also :D

Tom

@DigitalDaffodil 2020 They just slowed it down, sounds boring to me.They scream look Im cool and mysterious I made the song a bit slow and a bit smokey echoey sounding. I also don’t like that when you look at him in the video he has nothing on his face, but from the back seat they have a scarf or mask on

DigitalDaffodil 2020

No more enchanting or sexier than the original...

anxious onigiri

Let's gooooo. An EP and an LP in 2021 😩👏

Speed Brain

Is the Lp safe?

Samantha Official Channel

We get some rules to follow
That and this, these and those
No one knows
We get these pills to swallow
How they stick in your throat?
Tastes like gold
Oh, what you do to me?
No one knows

And I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

I journey through the desert
Of the mind with no hope
I follow
I drift along the ocean
Dead lifeboat in the sun
End come undone
Pleasantly caving in
I come undonе

And I realize you're minе
Indeed, a fool of mine
I realize you're mine
Indeed, a fool of mine

Heaven smiles above me
What a gift here below
But no one knows
Gift that you give to me
No one knows

Mike Tomy

Arrasaram, sou fã de vcs. Lança um Remake de All In White Pfvvv

Arturo RR

Loved when the lyrics said "with no hope" and "Hope" just appeared on the screen 👌

Farid W7

As always the perfect music, greetings from México.

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