Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
@PairOFish I agree. Very uncomfortable realization that you can never escape the system. In the end it always catches up with you. Doesn't mean you cannot find real things, be happy and enjoy life, and temporarily resist the system. But sooner or later you always get dragged back in by obligations and expectations of others. As long as you can "not take it too seriously" and keep a balance with freedom it's ok I think :-)
@PairOFish I agree. Very uncomfortable realization that you can never escape the system. In the end it always catches up with you. Doesn't mean you cannot find real things, be happy and enjoy life, and temporarily resist the system. But sooner or later you always get dragged back in by obligations and expectations of others. As long as you can "not take it too seriously" and keep a balance with freedom it's ok I think :-)
@bart101551 few years late, I wrote this song interpretation as an angsty college freshman lol, but I agree about finding real things and being happy, despite the shitty system ^_^
@bart101551 few years late, I wrote this song interpretation as an angsty college freshman lol, but I agree about finding real things and being happy, despite the shitty system ^_^
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
@PairOFish Great interpretation, I think. As you pointed out, this description totally fits with the music video.
@PairOFish Great interpretation, I think. As you pointed out, this description totally fits with the music video.
@PairOFish I agree. Very uncomfortable realization that you can never escape the system. In the end it always catches up with you. Doesn't mean you cannot find real things, be happy and enjoy life, and temporarily resist the system. But sooner or later you always get dragged back in by obligations and expectations of others. As long as you can "not take it too seriously" and keep a balance with freedom it's ok I think :-)
@PairOFish I agree. Very uncomfortable realization that you can never escape the system. In the end it always catches up with you. Doesn't mean you cannot find real things, be happy and enjoy life, and temporarily resist the system. But sooner or later you always get dragged back in by obligations and expectations of others. As long as you can "not take it too seriously" and keep a balance with freedom it's ok I think :-)
@bart101551 few years late, I wrote this song interpretation as an angsty college freshman lol, but I agree about finding real things and being happy, despite the shitty system ^_^
@bart101551 few years late, I wrote this song interpretation as an angsty college freshman lol, but I agree about finding real things and being happy, despite the shitty system ^_^