Songs → No Surprises
Released on OK Computer. This song was written prior to the beginning of the MiniDiscs. Thom played the song to the other band members in August 1995 and debuted the song in concert in December 1995.
The lyrics and full band arrangement was not finalized and can be heard in various rehearsals and live performances throughout the MiniDiscs.
Recording Chronology
March - April 1996: On Tour
April - May 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
May - July 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
July - August 1996: On Tour
Winter 1997: Mixing Sessions
Recordings → No Surprises Please (Lyon)
Rough demo. Thom solo, recorded during soundcheck on 17 April 1996. This recording was included on the OKNOTOK cassette tape.
Discs → MD112 → <tape blip: No Surprises Please (Lyon)>
Transcription
(Can you hit me with that note? Shall I stop then?)
Discs → MD112 → No Surprises Please (Lyon) <released on OKNOTOK>
Transcription
He was sick of his clock stopping / It winds him up / That girl still snoring next to him / He was sick of his excuses / To not take off her dress when bleeding in the bathroom / The watch smashed and he got restless / He started using broken English / With no alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / He was / He was / He was your final fit / Your final bellyache / With no alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Discs → MD112 → <tape blip: No Surprises Please (Lyon)>
Transcription
{none}
Recordings → No Surprises {MD113}
Early full band version recording during rehearsals. The band seems to be working out their parts for the song. Incomplete recording.
Discs → MD113 → No Surprises {MD113 · part 1} †
Transcription
We were [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / I know I should care but / [?] / This is all I wanted --
Discs → MD113 → No Surprises {MD113 · part 2} †
Transcription
[?] / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / He was / He was
Discs → MD113 → No Surprises {MD113 · part 3} †
Transcription
This is the your fit / Your final belly ache / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / Please
Recordings → No Surprises Please {MD114}
Full band rehearsal. This version has a different, heavier outro. The lyrics are very close to the final version.
Discs → MD114 → No Surprises Please {MD114} *
Transcription
A heart that's full up like a landfill / A job that slowly kills / And bruises that won't heal / You look so tired, unhappy / Bring down the government / They don't, they don't speak for you / We'll take the quiet life / A handshake of carbon monoxide / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / He wants / He wants / This is your final fit / Your final belly ache with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Recordings → No Surprises Please {MD115}
Full band rehearsal. Recording begins abruptly, the song's intro is slightly cut. The lyrics are beginning to resemble the final version but still have several early/alternate lines.
Discs → MD115 → No Surprises Please {MD115}
Transcription
A heart that's full up like a landfill / A job that slowly kills you / Bruises that won't heal / These things are sent to try us / So bring out the collection box / [?] you don't look so good / Well I'll take the quiet life / A handshake, a heart attack and / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / Silent / Silence / This is your final fit / Your final bellyache with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please / Happy [?] / Nuclear energy with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Recordings → No Surprises {MD115}
Full band rehearsal of the full song. Similar to the previous version on the same disc.
Discs → MD115 → No Surprises {MD115}
Transcription
A heart that's full up like a landfill / A job that slowly kills you / Bruises that won't heal / These things are sent to try us / Bring out the collection box / You don't, you don't look so good / Well I'll take the quiet life / A handshake, a heart attack and / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / Silent / Silent / This is your final fit / Your final bellyache with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please / Happy [?] / Nuclear energy with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Recordings → No Surprises Please {MD122 #1}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → No Surprises Please {MD122 #1} *
Transcription
(Hello, we're the support band.) / 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 the 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 your final fit / Your 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 baby / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Recordings → No Surprises Please {MD122 #2}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → No Surprises Please {MD122 #2}
Transcription
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 the 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 your final fit / Your 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 baby / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please
Recordings → No Surprises Please (Hershey)
Live performance, recorded on 26 August 1996. Recording has a short cut in the middle.
Discs → MD118 → No Surprises Please (Hershey) {part 1}
Transcription
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 a --
Discs → MD118 → No Surprises Please (Hershey) {part 2}
Transcription
-- no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / Silent / Silent / This is your final fit / Your final bellyache with / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please / Such a pretty house / And everything you ever wanted / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises / No alarms and no surprises please / (Thanks very much.)
Recordings → No Surprises Please {MD128}
Studio mix. This version plays at the original recorded speed and uses an alternate vocal track than the album version.
Discs → MD125 → No Surprises Please {MD128} ‡ <alternate mix - original recorded speed, different vocals>
Transcription
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) / Please
Discs → MD128 → No Surprises Please {MD128} † <alternate mix - original recorded speed, different vocals>
Transcription
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) / Please
Recordings → No Surprises {MD126}
Studio mix. This sounds like it is the same as or very similar to the final album version.
Discs → MD126 → No Surprises {MD126} † <finished mix · released on OK Computer>
Transcription
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)