Violet Hill
Coldplay Lyrics

Was a long and dark December
The singer starts the song by describing a gloomy and depressing time, perhaps referring to a difficult period in their life.

From the rooftops I remember
The singer is reminiscing about a specific memory, looking back from a different vantage point.

There was snow
The season is established as winter, which likely contributes to the bleakness the singer feels.

White snow
This repetition of 'snow' underscores its whiteness, as well as its purity and beauty - which may contrast with the negativity of the first verse.

Clearly I remember
The artist emphasizes the clarity of their memories, suggesting that they are still vivid despite the passage of time.

From the windows they were watching
The singer is aware of other people observing them or their surroundings from a distance - this could contribute to a sense of vulnerability or paranoia.

While we froze down below
The singer is describing a scenario where they were physically uncomfortable, perhaps because they were outside or didn't have warm enough clothing.

When the future's architectured
The artist introduces a new topic - the future - and implies that it is being designed by people who are foolish or untrustworthy.

By a carnival of idiots on show
The architects of the future are likened to performers in a circus or carnival, suggesting they are putting on a spectacle without regard for the consequences.

You'd better lie low
The artist advises listeners to protect themselves by staying out of harm's way, whether that means physically hiding or avoiding risky situations and people in power.

If you love me
At this point the singer addresses someone directly, suggesting that the song could be a message to a specific person or group.

Won't you let me know?
The artist is asking for clarity or confirmation from the person they addressed above, implying that they are uncertain about the relationship between them.

When the banks became cathedrals
The song shifts to a new metaphor, describing a time when financial institutions became as important and powerful as religious ones.

And the fog
The imagery in this verse becomes more dreamlike and surreal, with the introduction of fog as a mysterious and unknowable force.

Became God
By equating the fog with a deity, the singer suggests that people may have become overly fixated on something that can't be fully understood or controlled.

Priests clutched onto bibles
The religious overtone of the last verse continues, with the introduction of a type of religious leader and their holy book.

Hollowed out to fit their rifles
The priests' bibles are transformed into weapons, showing how power and violence can corrupt even the most sacred items or institutions.

And the cross was held aloft
The ultimate symbol of Christianity and salvation is shown to be used as a weapon or emblem of oppression, emphasizing the theme of corrupt power.

Bury me in armor
The singer prepares for a violent end or afterlife, asking to be buried in a protective covering.

When I'm dead and hit the ground
The artist accepts that they will eventually die and be buried, suggesting that they may have been in danger or fighting for their life up until now.

My nerves are poles that unfroze
The metaphor of freezing and thawing returns, implying that the artist's emotions or thoughts have been repressed or numb until now, but are finally being expressed.

And if you love me
The song returns to the refrain, again addressing someone the artist cares about.

Won't you let me know?
The singer repeats their plea for clarity or communication, suggesting that this is a major issue for them.

I don't want to be a soldier
The artist reveals something they don't want to do, perhaps in response to being pressured or forced to do so.

Who the captain of some sinking ship
Being a soldier is compared to being on a sinking ship, emphasizing the danger, chaos, and hopelessness of the situation.

Would stow
The singer expresses a desire to escape or avoid this fate, perhaps through hiding or fleeing.

Far below
The singer emphasizes that they want to be as far away as possible from this situation, both physically and emotionally.

So if you love me
The refrain is repeated once more, suggesting that the artist's desire for communication is still unfulfilled.

Why'd you let me go?
The artist questions why the person they addressed didn't try to hold onto them or help them escape their situation, suggesting feelings of betrayal or abandonment.

I took my love down to violet hill
The singer describes a specific memory or action, going back in time once more.

There we sat in snow
This line describes the physical location and weather of the memory - a snowy hilltop where the singer was with someone they loved.

All that time she was silent still
The artist reveals that the person they were with was not communicating, perhaps reflecting a larger pattern in the artist's relationships or struggles in getting people to open up.

So if you love me
The last time the refrain is repeated, perhaps with a sense of desperation or urgency.

Won't you let me know?
The song ends as it began - with the artist pleading for communication and connection, suggesting that it is the key to overcoming the struggles and difficulties they have described.