Clocks
酷玩(Coldplay) Lyrics
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Tides that I tried to swim against
Have put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple off my head (and a)
Trouble that can't be named, a tiger's waiting to be tamed (singing)
You are, you are
Come back and take you home, I could not stop that you now know (singing)
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)
You are [4x] (singing)
You are [2x]
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
Oh and nothing else compares
You are [continues in background]
Home, home, where I wanted to go [2x](I went)
Home, home, where I wanted to go (I went)
Home, home, where I wanted to go
"Clocks" by Coldplay is a song that talks about someone who is lost in love and is begging to be saved from the confusion and trouble they're experiencing. The song begins with the lights going off, and the persona expressing desperation due to being overwhelmed by their situation. They compare their predicament to trying to swim against tides that eventually put them down on their knees, leaving them with no option but to beg and plead for help. The persona then urges someone to come out of things unsaid, to shoot an apple off their head and tame the trouble that can not be named, the tiger waiting to be tamed. This tiger can be interpreted as the passion and intensity of the persona's emotions that they can't seem to control. The repetition of the line "You are, you are" shows the importance of the person they are addressing in their life, and the chorus "Nothing else compares" emphasizes this even more.
The second stanza talks about the persona's confusion and how they feel trapped by closing walls and ticking clocks. They express their desire to come back and take the person who they're pleading to, home. However, they understand that there were missed opportunities in the past and they question whether they're a part of the cure or the disease. They could be the solution to the problem or the reason for the problem. The last stanza affirms the importance of the person and the place they call home. The repetition of "Home, home, where I wanted to go" indicates their longing for this place and this person to save them from their confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Lights go out and I can't be saved
I feel helpless as I can't change the situation that has occurred
Tides that I tried to swim against
I went against the flow of something and struggled
Have put me down upon my knees
I've been defeated and now I'm vulnerable
Oh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)
I'm desperately asking for help and forgiveness
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple off my head (and a)
I want to reveal my hidden thoughts, even if it's dangerous
Trouble that can't be named, a tiger's waiting to be tamed (singing)
There's a problem that's hard to define, but I need to face it anyway
You are, you are
I'm addressing someone and acknowledging their presence
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks (gonna)
I'm always feeling lost and trapped, and time is running out
Come back and take you home, I could not stop that you now know (singing)
I can't prevent you from leaving, and I have to accept that
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)
I wish I had taken more chances, and now I regret it
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)
I question whether I'm part of the solution or the problem
You are [4x] (singing)
I'm repeating the acknowledgement of someone's presence
You are [2x]
I'm still acknowledging the person's presence
And nothing else compares
The person is unique and no one else is like them
Oh no nothing else compares
I emphasize that nothing can match the person's presence
Oh and nothing else compares
I repeat that nothing else can compare to the person
You are [continues in background]
The acknowledgement of the person continues in the background
Home, home, where I wanted to go [2x](I went)
I reached a place where I felt at home and comfortable
Home, home, where I wanted to go (I went)
I emphasize that I reached my desired destination
Home, home, where I wanted to go
I reiterate that I reached my desired destination
Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.