No Surprises Please Lyrics
Radiohead
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
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
Song & Lyrics Facts
Radiohead's "No Surprises" was released on January 13, 1997 as the third single from their acclaimed album OK Computer. The song was written by Radiohead members Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway, and produced by Nigel Godrich.
Its lyrics describe a mundane life of conformity and resignation to disappointment. The track features an acoustic guitar melody accompanied by strings, piano, and Yorke's vocals. The song was praised for its melancholic beauty, with critics noting its haunting atmosphere and its similarity to Pink Floyd's work. It became one of the band's most popular songs, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart and being nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1998 Grammy Awards. The music video for "No Surprises" was directed by Grant Gee and featured footage of Yorke performing the song while submerged underwater in a diving helmet. The lyrics have been interpreted as a metaphor for depression and feelings of entrapment.