Lyrics:No Complaints [Version (a)]:
We are aimless
And the target is an empty wall
We're out of patience
With smiles that cut across our face
No complaints
But I wish I had more time for my brain
I'd like to walk
Where the sun doesn't know we're awake
We're in spaceships
Take a visit to the Pyrenees
On paid vacations
Send a brochure from the agency
No complaints
But my girlfriend dug a ditch in my room
Walking papers and a hole
Straight out from my shoes
No complaints
But it's harder
To believe in the truth
So write a message
On a billboard
And I'll send it to you
We feel painless
Check the status on the info line
In some ways tainted
Radiation from the factory
No complaints
But it's overrated, that's for sure
Take a bus back
From Little Rock, Arkansas
Or Modesto
That's where my dog comes from
The Song:"No Complaints" can be found on Beck's album,
The Information.
Beck commented to
Rolling Stone that the song reminds him of "working on long sunny afternoons." He also compared it to his "early work, songs like 'One Foot In The Grave' which I haven't thought about in years' (sic)." There is some imagery/references that match his early work, like spaceships, ditch digging, Modesto. (And a loosely-tuned guitar.) (And a Speak N Spell.)
But I think more likely Beck is referring to the song being a bit of a reminiscence of an earlier time, singing about young person's experience of struggling, but without so much worry. Maturity may ease the struggle, but at the same time, you may have more to worry about. I believe that to be the underlying message here, though I do find it to be somewhat confusing expressed.
Live:Played live 10 times:
August 16, 2006September 2, 2006September 26, 2006October 4, 2006October 13, 2006October 16, 2006October 17, 2006October 22, 2006April 6, 2007April 8, 2007 Earliest known live version:
August 16, 2006Latest known live version:
April 8, 2007Beck has never really taken to playing "No Complaints" on stage, but it did show up 10 times in 2006-2007 on
The Information tours.
The first two times were in the summer before the album came out. Then it showed up 6 times in the fall when the album did, though most of those were off-tour things like radio, TV, and a post-show small club gig. Also once at an all acoustic show in a church.
Then Beck played it 2 times in Japan in 2007, but it has not been tried since.