Speed Of Sound
♫ Coldplay Lyrics

How long before I get in?
The singer is asking when they will be able to join or participate in something.

Before it starts, before I begin?
They want to know how much time they have before the event or activity starts.

How long before you decide?
The singer is asking how much time they have to wait before the other person makes a decision.

Before I know what it feels like?
They want to experience whatever it is before they can determine whether they like it or not.

Where to, where do I go?
The artist is unsure which direction to take or what actions to make.

If you never try, then you'll never know
One must take risks in order to gain knowledge and experience.

How long do I have to climb
The singer is questioning how much time and effort they must invest in order to reach their goal or destination.

Up on the side of this mountain of mine?
The mountain is a metaphor for the artist's personal struggles or obstacles that they must overcome.

Look up, I look up at night
The artist is describing their own action of looking up at the sky.

Planets are moving at the speed of light
The song is mentioning the physical movement of planets, indicating that the universe doesn't stop moving just because we do.

Climb up, up in the trees
The singer is encouraging someone to be adventurous and take opportunities to explore new things and take risks.

Every chance that you get
Take every opportunity that comes your way.

Is a chance you seize
It's important to make the most of your opportunities when they present themselves.

How long am I gonna stand
The singer is questioning how much longer they will wait or hesitate before taking action.

With my head stuck under the sand?
The metaphor of hiding one's head in the sand refers to avoiding or ignoring issues.

I'll start before I can stop
The artist intends to begin something and then persist until reaching their goal without quitting.

Before I see things the right way up
Metaphorically means to make mistakes before finding the correct way or method of doing things.

All that noise, and all that sound
The singer is referring to the chaos and distractions that are ever-present in the world.

All those places I have found
The singer has traveled to various destinations and found something unique or interesting in each of them.

And birds go flying at the speed of sound
Birds fly at tremendous speeds, drawing the comparison to the speed of sound.

To show you how it all began
Birds seem to symbolize the start of life, as they were one of the first living things on earth.

Birds came flying from the underground
The lyric is likely a reference to evolution, and how all life forms came from a single source.

If you could see it then you'd understand
The singer is suggesting that if you could witness the world in the same way they do, you would gain a similar understanding.

Ideas that you'll never find
There are certain ideas that are out of reach or unattainable for some people to comprehend or achieve.

All the inventors could never design
The greatest minds and inventors in history have not been able to create everything possible.

The buildings that you put up
The singer is referencing humanity's architectural achievements.

Japan and China all lit up
The mention of specific countries is likely meant to show examples of technological advancement and progress.

The sign that I couldn't read
The artist is referring to an unknown or confusing sign or symbol.

Or a light that I couldn't see
There are certain things in the world that are invisible or hidden from view.

Some things you have to believe
There are certain concepts or ideas that require faith or belief instead of proof or evidence.

But others are puzzles, puzzling me
The singer is confused by and seeking answers for some of life's mysteries.

All those signs, I knew what they meant
The artist is referring to existing knowledge and understanding they possess.

Some things you can invent
Humanity has the ability to create or invent new things and concepts.

And some get made, and some get sent
Not everything that is created is made or used by the creator, and some things are sent or shared with others.

Birds go flying at the speed of sound
Repeating the earlier line to show its significance and importance in the song.

To show you how it all began
The birds represent the beginning of life on earth and its continual movement and evolution.

If you could see it then you'd understand
The singer is repeating their earlier message about understanding the world in the same way they do.

Ah, when you see it then you'll understand
The final line repeats this message and ends the song on a hopeful and optimistic note.