After independently releasing an extended play, Safety (1998), Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999. The band's debut album, Parachutes (2000), included their breakthrough single "Yellow" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year, a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and a Mercury Prize nomination. Their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades and included "Clocks", which earned a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. In 2005, they released X&Y; the album was marked by a troubled production and various delays, completing what the band considered a trilogy as well. Coldplay's fourth effort, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), received a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album and their first Album of the Year nomination, while its title track was the first British group song to reach number-one in the United Kingdom and United States simultaneously in the 21st century. Both X&Y and Viva la Vida were the best-selling albums of their respective years, topping the charts in more than 30 countries each.
Since then, Coldplay further diversified their sound with the subsequent releases Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021). Each album presented a unique theme and added new musical styles to the band's original repertoire, including electronica, ambient, pop, R&B, funk, classical, jazz fusion, and progressive rock. They are also known for "euphoric" live performances, which NME said are when the band "come alive and make the most sense". To celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018, a career-spanning documentary directed by Mat Whitecross was premiered at selected cinemas, featuring previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage.
With 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are the most successful band of the 21st century and one of the best-selling music acts of all time. According to Fuse, they are also the sixth-most awarded group in history. Other notable achievements include the seventh-highest-grossing tour of all time, three of the 50 highest-selling albums ever in the United Kingdom, the most number-one records in the country without ever missing the top, most nominations and wins for a band in Brit Awards history, and becoming the first British group to debut at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. Coldplay are considered one of the most influential bands of the 21st century as well, with Forbes describing them as the standard for the current alternative scene. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included A Rush of Blood to the Head on their "200 Definitive Albums" list and the single "Yellow" is part of their "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" exhibition for being one of the most successful and important recordings in the industry. In spite of their popularity and impact, Coldplay have earned a reputation as polarizing music icons.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay
Studio albums
Parachutes (2000)
A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
X&Y (2005)
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
Mylo Xyloto (2011)
Ghost Stories (2014)
A Head Full of Dreams (2015)
Everyday Life (2019)
Music of the Spheres (2021)
11 Up In Flames
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This time I know it's gone
Salt water tasted it too long
I only know I'm wrong
Now I know it's gone
Up in flames, up in flames
Up in flames we have slowly gone
So it's over
This time you're flying on
This time I know no song
Can stop it slowly burn
Can stop it slowly gone
Up in flames, up in flames
Up in flames we have slowly gone
Up in flames, up in flames
Up in flames we have slowly gone
Oh, we have slowly gone
Can we pour some water on?
The lyrics to Coldplay's song 11 Up In Flames describe the end of a romantic relationship. The singer knows that the relationship is over and they have come to terms with it. The metaphor of "salt water" suggests that they have shed a lot of tears and experienced a lot of pain. The line "I only know I'm wrong" suggests that the singer might be taking the blame for the breakup or that they have some sense of regret for their actions or inactions that led to the end of the relationship. The repetition of "now I know it's gone" emphasizes the finality of the situation.
The chorus, "up in flames we have slowly gone" suggests that the relationship has gradually deteriorated to the point of no return, perhaps due to neglect or lack of effort. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that the other person is moving on while they are stuck in the past, unable to stop the "slowly burn" of the relationship fading away. The repetition of "up in flames" serves as a powerful symbol of the intensity of their love and how brightly it burned, but also of its ultimate destruction.
The final line, "can we pour some water on?" implies a desire to possibly rekindle the relationship or save what is left of it. However, the use of the word "some" suggests uncertainty or doubt and it is unclear whether the singer truly believes there is any hope left for the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
So it's over
The relationship has come to an end.
This time I know it's gone
The singer knows that the relationship is definitely over this time.
Salt water tasted it too long
The pain of the breakup has been experienced for too long.
I only know I'm wrong
The artist recognizes their mistakes in the relationship.
Now I know it's gone
The artist has fully accepted that the relationship is over.
Up in flames, up in flames
The relationship has been destroyed or ended suddenly and dramatically.
Up in flames we have slowly gone
The relationship has gradually become worse and worse until it finally ended abruptly.
This time you're flying on
The artist's partner has moved on and is now flying high without them.
This time I know no song
The artist has no words or music to express the pain of the breakup this time.
Can stop it slowly burn
Nothing can stop the slow and painful process of moving on from the relationship.
Can stop it slowly gone
Once the relationship is over, there is no way to stop the inevitable process of moving on.
Oh, we have slowly gone
The relationship has gradually deteriorated until it finally ended unexpectedly.
Can we pour some water on?
The singer asks if there is any way to ease the pain of the breakup or to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tatianna Turrentine-Long
one of the most prettiest songs on their album! I hope they get a whole bunch of Grammy's for this. This album is amazing. Another major success. They never failed. From X&Y to Mylo Xyloto.
buzzbigwig730
Not a huge fan of the new album, but this song is one of the best they've ever done.
Mark Illingworth
this is such an amazing song. love it love it love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best on the album by a long way.
maitush1216
just one word for this: masterpiece, and the guitar at 02:23 and onwards is amazing
Elisa Giorgi
A beautiful song! Thanks Coldplay <3
Juan Manuel Sánchez Adarve
Una de las mejores de Mylo Xyloto, :D
Alysia Ness
Just bought this CD and it is AWESOME!
Kayla Preiss
This song descibes my life right now with my ex. This song reminds me soooo much of their eariler albums. i love it. Cant wait to hear it live on april 25th in seattle washington.
KIBOL1975
dobry numer!!!!!!! :) to jest prawdziwy Coldplay! :)
Mo' Andra
such a beautiful song..I have to thank my classmate for sharing this!!Now I'm in love with Coldplay by first 'sight'!xD