Warning Sign
Coldplay㈀ Lyrics


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A warning sign
I missed the good part, then I realized
I started looking and the bubble burst
I started looking for excuses
Come on in
I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign

When the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
That I miss you so

A warning sign
It came back to haunt me, and I realized
That you were an island and I passed you by
When you were an island to discover
Come on in
I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign

When the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
That I miss you so
And I'm tired
I should not have let you go

(Oh oh oh)

So I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms




And I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Coldplay’s “Warning Sign” express regret and longing for someone that the singer has lost. There is a sense of reflection and self-realization as the singer admits to ignoring warning signs that may have prevented the breakup. The first verse describes how the singer missed the “good part” of the relationship before realizing that they had been searching for excuses instead of addressing the problems.


The chorus reveals that the singer misses the person deeply, but the admission comes with the caveat that the person was likely already aware of this fact. The second verse reveals a bit more about the situation, as the singer admits that they “passed [the other person] by” when they should have taken the time to discover them fully. Once again, the singer acknowledges that they ignored warning signs, which led to the demise of the relationship.


In the bridge, the singer declares that they’re tired and shouldn’t have let the other person go, leading into the final chorus. The song ends with the singer crawling back to the other person’s open arms, suggesting a desire to reconcile and make things right. Overall, the lyrics to “Warning Sign” are raw, vulnerable, and with a sense of regret, reflecting on the aftermath of lost love.


Line by Line Meaning

A warning sign
Something that should have alerted me to the forthcoming consequences


I missed the good part, then I realized
I failed to appreciate the positive aspects until it was too late


I started looking and the bubble burst
I began to examine more closely and the illusion was shattered


I started looking for excuses
I started searching for justifications for my actions


Come on in
Please enter and become aware of my present condition


I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I must inform you of the overwhelmed and vulnerable state I find myself in


I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
I must express this loudly and earnestly


That I started looking for a warning sign
That I have been searching for the signs that could have prevented this outcome


When the truth is
The matter of fact is


I miss you
I feel a strong sense of longing for you


Yeah the truth is
Indeed, the reality is


That I miss you so
That I miss you intensely


And I'm tired
Furthermore, I am exhausted of dealing with the aftermath without you


I should not have let you go
I regret allowing our separation to occur


It came back to haunt me, and I realized
The event resurfaced and I recognized the impact it had on me


That you were an island and I passed you by
I failed to appreciate your worth and worthiness when I had the chance


When you were an island to discover
At the time, you were an exceptional and unexplored destination for me


So I crawl back into your open arms
I humbly beg to re-enter your gracious embrace


Yes I crawl back into your open arms
I plead for your compassion and forgiveness


And I crawl back into your open arms
I greatly desire to be close to you again




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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