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
Harmless
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your self esteem is low
And I heard you'd called
Is there no calling?
And away I go
Any way you go
I was on your tail
As clear as crystal
But it was harmless
It couldn't hurt you
Oh you were helpless
I know you'll get through
I know, I
Chemicals are cold
See you sit down on
A chemical you cause
Is like a crystal
So I heard you say
I got to get away
I'm on a second trail
As clear as crystal
But I was harmless
It couldn't hurt you
Oh you were helpless
I know you'll get through
The lyrics to Coldplay's song "Harmless" are somewhat ambiguous and open to interpretation. It appears to be a song about someone who is struggling with their self-esteem and attempting to escape their problems through chemical means. The singer references being on this person's tail and hearing that they have been calling, but it is unclear who the singer is and what their relationship is to the person they are addressing. However, the chorus provides some reassurance that "it couldn't hurt you" and "you'll get through" whatever difficulties are currently being faced.
The first verse seems to suggest that the person being addressed is feeling low and may have been trying to contact some sort of support system without success. The use of the repeated phrase "is there no calling?" implies a feeling of isolation and desperation. The second verse then references chemicals, which could potentially mean drugs or alcohol. The line "a chemical you cause" could suggest that the person being addressed is responsible for their own problems or that they are actively seeking out substances to numb their pain. The repeated use of the phrase "as clear as crystal" throughout the song could refer to the clarity that comes with sobriety or the transparency of the singer's intentions.
Line by Line Meaning
If you call and call
If you keep reaching out repeatedly
Your self esteem is low
It's likely due to poor self-image and self-worth issues you're experiencing
And I heard you'd called
I found out you tried to contact me
Is there no calling?
Why aren't you picking up the phone?
And away I go
I'm going to leave without waiting for a response from you
Any way you go
Regardless of what direction you decide to take
I was on your tail
I was closely following you or keeping track of your whereabouts
As clear as crystal
It was very obvious or apparent to me
But it was harmless
My actions were not intended to harm or cause any damage to you
It couldn't hurt you
I had no ill intentions or negative impact on you
Oh you were helpless
You were feeling vulnerable, powerless or defenseless
I know you'll get through
I'm sure you'll overcome this difficult situation
Chemicals are cold
Chemicals can be numbing or make you feel disconnected
See you sit down on
I see you sitting on
A chemical you cause
You triggered a chemical reaction or emotional response
Is like a crystal
It's clear and easy to notice
So I heard you say
I heard you mention
I got to get away
I need to escape or leave this situation
I'm on a second trail
I'm pursuing a different path
But I was harmless
Even though I'm taking a different approach I still don't intend to cause any harm
It couldn't hurt you
My actions aren't meant to cause harm or damage to you
Oh you were helpless
You're feeling vulnerable, powerless or defenseless
I know you'll get through
I'm confident you'll overcome this tough time
Contributed by Kennedy B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nanagaluashvili8957
If you call and call
Your self esteem is low
And I heard you'd called
Is there no calling?
And away I go
Any way you go
I was on your tail
As clear as crystal
But it was harmless
It couldn't hurt you
Oh you were helpless
I know you'll get through
I know, I
Chemicals are cold
See you sit down on
A chemical you cause
Is like a crystal
So I heard you say
I got to get away
I'm on a second trail
As clear as crystal
But I was harmless
It couldn't hurt you
Oh you were helpless
I know you'll get through
@gloombog
I think the beauty of the unreleased songs is the fact that they're unreleased. The fact that less people know about them, that you can't buy them, and that being able to hear them is a really special thing.
@olliehutchinson5327
Yeah I know what you mean. It is like you have discovered a diamond.
@rodrigo8916
+Tessa Kelly: ''I think the beauty of the unreleased songs is the fact that they're unreleased.'' EXACTLY! greetings from Perú.
@nachopagani
Couldn't say it better, cheers for unreleased songs
@jhonmartin2346
Com certeza serão lançadas em um futuro não muito distante.
@IlCalcio-dl1do
Modelame así dando la primera pose pose pose
@Nomis2779
The Parachutes era was amazing. I saw them live here in Detroit when they were touring for A Rush Of Blood. And they played almost every song off of Parachutes and A Rush of Blood. Probably best concert ever.
@Deadralord777
I’m so jealous
@rinderknorpelmuhle1790
I was probably 1 or 2 depending on whether you were there in 2002 or 2003. You're so incredibly lucky. I would travel back immediately if I was allowed to see a concert from the tour live.
@TheAngus1980
that two albums and some songs of Viva la Vida are my special favourites, I'm, glad for you! you were really lucky! haha