Recording sessions for the album took place from June 2007 to April 2008 and featured production by Jon Hopkins, Rik Simpson, Markus Dravs and Brian Eno. The album was Coldplay's first to be produced by Eno, and also their first album to not be produced by long-time Coldplay producer, Ken Nelson. The band forced themselves to explore new styles, as Eno required every song on the album to sound different. Development of the album delayed the release date several times. The album cover of Viva la Vida is the 1830 painting Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix.
Viva la Vida was both a critical and commercial success. It won Best Rock Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards and was also nominated for Album of the Year. It was the best-selling album of 2008. By 2011, the album had sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
Life in Technicolor
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the corner of my street
Every night there the headlights are glowing
There's a cold war coming
On the radio I heard
Baby, it's a violent world
Oh-oh, love, don't let me go
Won't you take me where the street lights glow?
I can hear it coming
I can hear the siren sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Time came a-creeping
Oh and time's a loaded gun
(Every road is a ray of light)
It goes on
Time'll leak and lead you on
Still, it's such a beautiful night
Oh-oh, love, don't let me go
Won't you take me where the street lights glow?
I can hear it coming
Like a serenade of sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Gravity, release me
And don't ever hold me down
Now my feet won't touch the ground
The opening lines “There’s a wild wind blowing, down the corner of my street, every night there the headlights are glowing” create a sense of restlessness and unease in the singer. The wind represents change and instability, while the headlights suggest movement and transition. These feelings are heightened by the mention of a “cold war” coming, which shows the potential for conflict and violence in the world. This hints at a larger theme of uncertainty and fear for the future.
The chorus "Oh love, don't let me go, won't you take me where the streetlights glow" presents a sense of longing and desire for a more stable and unchanging world, where the streetlights provide guidance and security. The singer yearns for the comfort of love and a relationship that can give them a sense of stability in an unpredictable world.
The second verse continues with the theme of time and change, using the metaphor “time’s a loaded gun” to suggest that time is dangerous and unpredictable. However, the singer finds beauty in the night despite its inherent fear and uncertainty. The final lines “Gravity release me, and don’t ever hold me down, now my feet won’t touch the ground,” can also be interpreted as a desire for freedom and escape from the limitations of the physical world.
Overall, "Life in Technicolor" is a complex and layered song that explores themes of fear, uncertainty, longing, and desire for stability and freedom. The use of metaphors and imagery help to build a sense of atmosphere and emotion that resonate with the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a wild wind blowing,
There is a strong wind blowing that is untamed and unpredictable.
Down the corner of my street
This wind is blowing down the street corner nearest to my location.
Every night there the headlights are glowing
The headlights of passing cars illuminate the street corner every night.
there's a cold war coming,
There is a figurative conflict or tension that seems to be brewing.
On the radio I heard
I learned about this conflict or tension through information broadcasted on the radio.
Baby it's a violent world
The world we live in can be harsh and aggressive.
Oh love don't let me go
Love, please keep me close and don't let me drift away.
Won't you take me where the streetlights glow
Please take me to a place that is safe and bright, where the streetlights illuminate the surroundings.
I could hear it coming
I could sense something approaching.
I could hear the sirens sound
I heard the alarming sound of sirens that suggest danger or urgency.
Now my feet won't touch the ground
I feel light and unburdened, almost as if I am floating.
Time came a-creepin'
Time slowly and inevitably moves forward.
Oh and time's a loaded gun
Time has the power to create extreme changes or consequences.
Every road is a ray of light
Every path or journey we take is illuminated with some kind of hope or positivity.
It goes o-o-on
Time keeps moving forward; things continue to happen and change.
Time only can lead you on
We cannot go back in time or change what has already happened; we must continue moving forward.
Still it's such a beautiful night
Despite the potential dangers or uncertainties in the world, the present moment is still peaceful and attractive.
Gravity release me,
Relinquish the force of gravity that keeps me tethered to the ground.
And don't ever hold me down
Do not constrain or restrict me, allow me to be free and light-hearted.
Now my feet won't touch the ground.
I feel weightless and liberated, free to explore and enjoy the world around me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Anthony Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alyas Scofield
on Yellow
love it
Jeannie Smith
on A Sky Full of Stars
<3 love it!
Jeannie Smith
on Shiver
Also I'd like to add that this song and some oyher stuff makes me think of The Bee Gees for some reason.
Jeannie Smith
on Shiver
I like this because of Lucy who's knickname is Shivers.
Jeannie Smith
on Speed of Sound
I like all of Coldplay's songs so far. :)
Jeannie Smith
on O
I like this.
Jeannie Smith
on A Sky Full of Stars
love this song <3
Jeannie Smith
on A Sky Full of Stars
Like this!
Kirstine Reville
on Fix You
NICE