Coldplay is a British alternative rock and britpop band formed in London in… Read Full Bio ↴Coldplay is a British alternative rock and britpop band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University College London and began playing music together from 1996 to 1998, initially calling themselves Starfish. Coldplay's music incorporates elements of soft rock, pop rock, piano rock, and post-britpop.

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

Warning
Coldplay Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A warning sign
I missed the good part, then I realized
I started looking and the bubble burst
I started looking for excuses
Come on in
I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign

When the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
That I miss you so

A warning sign
It came back to haunt me, and I realized
That you were an island and I passed you by
When you were an island to discover
Come on in
I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign

When the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
That I miss you so
And I'm tired
I should not have let you go

(Oh oh oh)

So I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms

And I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms

Overall Meaning

In "Warning Sign," Chris Martin of Coldplay sings about the realization that he misses someone he let go. He describes the feeling as a warning sign that he should have paid attention to. In the first verse, he starts by saying "I missed the good part, then I realized." Martin acknowledges that he didn't appreciate what he had until it was gone. He then goes on to say that he started looking for an excuse for why things didn't work out.

The chorus repeats the phrase "the truth is, I miss you." Martin is being honest with himself and acknowledging that he has made a mistake. He is tired and wishes he had never let go of the person he misses. In the second verse, he reflects that "a warning sign came back to haunt me." He had missed the opportunity to discover something special with this person who was an "island" that he had passed by.

The final lines of the song are a hopeful message. Martin crawls back into the person's open arms, signaling that he wants to make things right. The song is a powerful reminder of the importance of valuing what we have in the present moment and not taking it for granted.

Line by Line Meaning

A warning sign
The beginning of a realization that something is wrong or that consequences are imminent.

I missed the good part, then I realized
I overlooked the best moments and only later realized how important they were.

I started looking and the bubble burst
I began to investigate and discovered the hard truth instead of living in blissful ignorance.

I started looking for excuses
I tried to rationalize or justify my actions, but deep down I knew I was wrong.

Come on in
Invitation to listen and understand my current emotional state.

I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
I need to share with you how I am feeling and the toll it has taken on me.

I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones
I need to express myself in a forceful manner to convey the urgency and gravity of the situation.

That I started looking for a warning sign
My search for the truth led me to realize that there were signs all along that I ignored.

When the truth is
However, the reality is...

I miss you
I long for your presence, companionship, and affection.

Yeah the truth is
Yes, it is true...

That I miss you so
I yearn for you deeply, more than I care to admit.

And I'm tired
I am exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I should not have let you go
I made a mistake by ending our relationship or letting distance come between us.

(Oh oh oh)
Vocalization expressing the strong emotions and desire to reconcile.

So I crawl back into your open arms
I humbly come back to you, seeking comfort, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Yes I crawl back into your open arms
I acknowledge my mistake and surrender myself to your embrace, hoping for a second chance.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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