Coldplay frontman Chris Martin confirmed “Warning Sign“ was inspired by his split from British live events producer Lily Sobhani. Martin broke up with Sobhani while promoting the band's debut album, Parachutes. Following their split, Sobhani went on to produce a number of music events, including the Live 8 and Live Earth benefit concerts.
Martin hated this song, so much so he tried to remove it from A Rush of Blood to the Head and refused to perform it live. Speaking about his intense dislike for“ Warning Sign“, Martin explained to Crud Magazine in 2002: "The reason I don't like the song 'Warning Sign' is that it makes you feel sorry for the singer, whereas in fact I know it was written at a time when I was being a total knob. And that's the great joy of music is that one can present oneself as a romantic hero, whereas in fact in real life, that was written in one of my immense periods of being a dickhead."
During an episode of VH1's Storytellers series, guitarist Jon Buckland said he labored for more than a year trying to come up with a part to play in this song. "I wound up playing maracas on the recording," he said with a laugh.
"Warning Sign" features in the Zach Braff-starring movie The Last Kiss. Braff is a big fan of Coldplay and also included the Parachutes cut “Don't Panic“ in the Grammy Award-winning Garden State: The Soundtrack.
This song also appears in the episode "Him" of the popular television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It plays as Dawn Summers finds out her sister, Buffy, has been hooking up with Dawn's high-school crush, R.J.
Coldplay almost released this song as the second single from A Rush of Blood to the Head, but it was eventually replaced by “The Scientist“.
This is the eighth song on Coldplay's sophomore studio album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Much of the record deals with the fallout of fame following the international success of the band's debut album, Parachutes. During an interview with MTV in 2002, Martin offered more detail: "Perhaps there's a bit more urgency on some of these songs. And that's born from all the places we've been and the things we've experienced. Some of our friends have died or some of us have fallen in love. Some of us have fallen out of love and some of us have been to Haiti and some of us have been to Australia. Some of us have met Bono and some of us have met someone with nothing. It's like a massive culture gun fired at our heads. All this stuff has been happening to us, and now we have the opportunity to put it into some songs."
Warning Sign
Coldplay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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