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)
Animals
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Disposable
Collapsible and raw
I suppose
It's just the state I'm in
Animals that climb
I'm climbin' over you
Until you say
Animal I am
Disposable
Collapsible and raw
I don't know which way
I should turn
Animal that runs
I ran away from you
And now I'm in
"Off you go, off you go"
(And you say)
If you're gonna go, go now
If you're gonna go, go now
I forgot to tell you how
If you gonna go, go now
Animal I am
I'm looking for a future
Just like you
Well I don't know
Which way I turn
Animals that climb
I climb all over you
Until I say
And I missed my chance
By a stone slow
If you're gonna go
Go now
If you're gonna go
Go now
I forgot to tell you how
If you gonna go
Go now
The lyrics to Coldplay's song Animals can be interpreted in different ways. Some people may see it as a metaphor for human relationships, while others can see it as a commentary on society's treatment of animals. The first verse talks about how animals are often seen as disposable and raw, and the state the singer is in has made him feel like an animal. The second verse shows the singer trying to run away and climb over the person he is addressing until he is told to go away. The chorus repeats the phrase “If you’re gonna go, go now” multiple times, which can be seen as advice to the singer or the person he is addressing.
It seems like the singer is trying to find his place in the world and is looking for a future. He wants to move forward, but he does not know which way to turn, which can represent the feeling of being lost, confused, and directionless. The repetition of “Animals that climb” and “Animal I am” may show the struggle of being seen as nothing more than an animal or a lesser being. The line “And I missed my chance by a stone slow” reveals that the singer is reflecting on a missed opportunity that could have changed his path.
In summary, Coldplay's Animals is a song that can be interpreted in various ways, but it highlights themes of disposability, feeling lost, and missed opportunities. It is a reflective song that reminds us of the importance of taking chances and finding our place in the world before it is too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Animals we are
We, as humans, are like animals
Disposable
We are easily replaceable and disposable
Collapsible and raw
We can easily fall apart and be vulnerable as humans
I suppose
I guess that's just the reality of the situation
It's just the state I'm in
I find myself in this state of being
Animals that climb
Those of us who strive to succeed and climb the ladder of success
I'm climbin' over you
I'm working hard to surpass you
Until you say
Until you tell me to stop
"Off you go, off you go"
When you want me to move on
Animal I am
I, like other humans, possess animalistic qualities
I don't know which way
I am unsure of the direction I should take
I should turn
To steer my life in the right direction
Animal that runs
Those of us who try to escape from our problems
I ran away from you
I have tried to escape my issues before
And now I'm in
Now I find myself in a situation in which I can't escape from
"Off you go, off you go"
When you want me to move on and forget about you
(And you say)
(You said)
If you're gonna go, go now
If you're going to leave, leave now
I forgot to tell you how
I never got the chance to tell you how I feel
I'm looking for a future
I'm searching for a better future
Just like you
Like everyone else
Well I don't know
I am unsure
Animals that climb
Those of us who strive for success
I climb all over you
I rely on others to help me succeed
Until I say
Until I decide to move forward
And I missed my chance
I missed my opportunity
By a stone slow
Due to a small mistake or delay
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Anara Publishing Limited, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Young, Brandon Paak Anderson, Christopher Martin, Dmitrij Olegovich Semenov, Morris Ricks, Sylvester Jordan Jr.
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