No Surprises

Song meaning of No Surprises by Radiohead

Glockenspiel and a "childlike" sound, reminiscent of the 1966 Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, are featured. On the UK Singles Chart, the song peaked at number four.

Thom Yorke, the vocalist, is shown in the music video, which was directed by Grant Gee, wearing a helmet while it fills with water. Gee drew inspiration from the science fiction television series UFO, underwater escape acts, and the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The line "a job that slowly kills you" became his obsession, and he came up with the idea for a live video that would capture the sensation of "murderous seconds".

"No Surprises" was written by Thom Yorke in 1995 while Radiohead was on tour with R.E.M. Later on, an additional glockenspiel melody was added, and the lyrics were revised. It was the first song to be recorded during the OK Computer sessions.

The band was going for a vibe reminiscent of the 1966 Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, according to Yorke, who noted that the "childlike guitar sound set the mood for the whole album". Additionally, he added that Radiohead aimed to imitate the mood of a Louis Armstrong song called "What a Wonderful World" or a Marvin Gaye song.

No Surprises lyrics by Radiohead

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)