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)
U.F.O
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which way, the river gonna flow
It's just seems that upstream, I keep rolling
Still got such a long way to go
Still got such a long way to go
Then at last, it's your right, I know, I swear
We'll find somewhere the streets are paved with gold
But that's all right, sometimes
The sunlight comes streaming through the holes
In these lyrics, the singer is expressing their uncertainty about the path they are taking in life. They don't know which way they are going and are unsure of where the river of life will take them. Even though they feel like they are constantly fighting against the current, they acknowledge that they still have a long way to go.
However, despite the uncertainty, the singer is confident that they will eventually find their way. They are convinced that they will find a place where the streets are "paved with gold," a symbol of success and prosperity. The line "But it's fly, split the sky" seems to suggest that the journey may not always be smooth sailing and that there may be obstacles to overcome. But the singer is optimistic and believes that even then, "the sunlight comes streaming through the holes."
Overall, the song reflects the human experience of feeling lost and unsure of one's path in life. However, it also offers a message of hope and perseverance, encouraging listeners to keep moving forward and have faith that they will eventually find their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord I don't know which way I am going
I am lost and unsure of my destination
Which way, the river gonna flow
I cannot predict what the future holds
It's just seems that upstream, I keep rolling
I feel like I am struggling against the current
Still got such a long way to go
I have a lot of distance to cover before I reach my goals
Then at last, it's your right, I know, I swear
I am confident that we will eventually find success
We'll find somewhere the streets are paved with gold
We will reach a place of great prosperity and abundance
But it's fly, split the sky
We may encounter obstacles or challenges on our journey
But that's all right, sometimes
Despite setbacks, we must remain optimistic
The sunlight comes streaming through the holes
There will always be moments of hope and positivity amidst the darkness
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN PETER GEORGE ENO, GUY BERRYMAN, JONATHAN MARK BUCKLAND, WILLIAM CHAMPION, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY JOHN MARTIN
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