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)
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only
Road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet, yeah
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
But I'm a million different people from
One day to the next i can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Have you ever been down?)
Well I've never prayed, but tonight
I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that
Recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let
It cleanse my mind, i feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's
Nobody singing to me now
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people from
One day to the next i can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no have you ever been down?
I can't change it you know, I can't change it
'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony
That's life trying to make ends meet
Trying to find some money, then you die
I'll take you down the only
Road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet, yeah
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
And I'm a million different people from
One day to the next
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no
You've gotta change my mould, no, no, no
(It's just sex and violence
Melody and silence)
(It's just sex and violence
Melody and violence)
(It's just sex and silence
Melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only
Road I've ever been down)
(It's just sex and violence
Melody and silence)
(I'll take you down the only
Road I've ever been down)
(It's just sex and violence
Melody and violence) been down
Ever been down
(I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no)
(It's just sex and violence
Melody and violence) ever been down
(I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no)
Ever been down ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
The lyrics to Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft's "Bittersweet Symphony" reflect on the complexities and struggles of life. The song conveys a feeling of being trapped, a "slave to money," and a sense of resignation to one's circumstances. The metaphor of a bittersweet symphony refers to the highs and lows of existence, the beauty and the pain that make up the human experience. The line "You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet" suggests a reference to drug use and addiction, where veins are a common image.
The chorus repeats, "I can change, but I'm here in my mould," emphasizing the difficulty of breaking free from one's situation or identity. The singer then admits to being "a million different people from one day to the next" but facing the impossibility of changing their core identity. The final verse expresses a desire to escape this reality, to find something that recognizes and validates one's pain. The mention of "melody" and "silence" suggest a search for music as a source of catharsis and escape.
Overall, "Bittersweet Symphony" is a poignant representation of the struggles we face in life, our search for meaning and our attempts to break free from the constraints that hold us back.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Life is a mixture of happiness and sadness, like a symphony
Tryin' to make ends meet
Struggling to earn enough money to survive
You're a slave to money then you die
Life is controlled by the need for money, and ultimately ends in death
I'll take you down the only Road I've ever been down
I'll guide you down the path that I've taken throughout my life
Where all the veins meet, yeah
To the places where all aspects of life come together
No change, I can change
I feel stuck in my life and unable to change, even though I know change is possible
But I'm here in my mould
I am stuck in my own habits and patterns
And I'm a million different people from One day to the next i can't change my mould
Despite wanting to change, my habits and patterns remain the same, making me feel like I am different people on a daily basis
Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
In a moment of desperation, I turn to a higher power for guidance
I need to hear some sounds that Recognize the pain in me, yeah
I need to hear music or other sounds that validate the pain I am feeling
I let the melody shine, let It cleanse my mind, i feel free now
The music I listen to helps me release my emotions and feel free
But the airwaves are clean and there's Nobody singing to me now
I can't find music that speaks to me and helps me feel understood
I can't change it you know, I can't change it
Despite wanting to, I am stuck in my patterns and cannot change
You know I can change, I can change
I realize change is possible, even though I feel stuck
You've gotta change my mould, no, no, no
I need help and guidance from others to break out of my patterns and change
It's just sex and violence Melody and silence
Life is full of extremes, from pleasure to pain, noise to silence
I'll take you down the only Road I've ever been down
I'll show you the path I've taken, even though it may not work for you
Ever been down Have you ever been down?
Have you ever experienced the same struggles that I have?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Richard Ashcroft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charliedallachie3539
I miss the old world 🌎
@BEAR8419
Fuckin A
@ArcturianLessons
We will be back there again dont worry. Birth pain whats happening currently
@NicksMovieMix
Normal 2.0
@NicksMovieMix
You will miss today.......too.
@dariorandagiosaviozzi3125
Me too my friend
@cmk9495
I’m jealous of everyone in that crowd who got to see this magic live.
@willritter4076
I'd be honored if some Verve & Coldplay fans would give a quick listen to my acoustic piano & vocal YouTube performances of BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY and VIVA LA VIDA in tribute to 2 of the most iconic bands from the 90s & 00s (respectively). Live acoustic with no autotune. Peace and stay safe.
@BrendaDrumm
Love him dead ringer for spider out of coronation St ys ago😂
@willritter4076
should put the link https://youtu.be/xNknyJIkLn4 (BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY acoustic cover)