So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
To my surprise, and my delight
I saw sunrise, I saw sunlight
I am nothing in the dark
And the clouds burst to show daylight
Oh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Oh and I realize
Who cannot live without
Oh come apart without
It
On a hilltop, on a sky-rise
Like a firstborn child
And at full tilt, and in full flight
Defeat darkness, breaking daylight
Oh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Oh and I realized
Who cannot live without
Oh and come apart without
Daylight
(Slowly breaking through daylight)
I saw sunrise, I saw sunlight
I am nothing in the dark
And the clouds burst to show daylight
Oh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Oh and I realize
Who cannot live without
Oh come apart without
It
On a hilltop, on a sky-rise
Like a firstborn child
And at full tilt, and in full flight
Defeat darkness, breaking daylight
Oh and the sun will shine
Yeah on this heart of mine
Oh and I realized
Who cannot live without
Oh and come apart without
Daylight
(Slowly breaking through daylight)
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
i love the 'slowly breaking through the daylight' repetition at the end of the song. it makes you almost feel like breaking though the daylight...
wait... you took a long journey on the internet... and then you found it on the Coldplay official website..?! where the hell did you start looking..?? ;)
anyway, I didn't like this song at first, but now I really like it, it's very different somehow. I like Matt Greens interpretation, I hadn't thought of it like that before.
at first.
Why didn't you CHECK if i was lying? Seems to me rather stupid to say someone is lying without even looking to the evidence.
Second. i had to re-write the lyrics myself, because you can't just copy it from the coldplay website. but look it up, most of what i said is there. And go and take a good listen (also to the live versions). And kill me if i entirely made everything up.
Haha.
clearly this is a song about transience, this person is at a state where they are having trouble with life or a problem, or with figuring out who they are. usually the unknown is synonymous with darkness, darkness is life corresponds to having issues with your personal life or just simply having issues with yourself. this man has come to a point where the darkness is slowly evading and he is almost surprised with himself that he could possibly see daylight after suffering through the unknown, and embarks on a mission of self knowledge and growth. the clouds BURSTING show the change from who he was to now who he will become.
now that he has realized that he is capable of seeing daylight and moving forward past the darkness to accept who he is. he now realizes how vital daylight is and accepting life's circumstances is.. he comes to the conclusion that he can't live without daylight.
the first born child could signify rebirth and completely starting anew... a first born child marks a beginning more than the second or third child would. it's like he is starting fresh and moving towards solidarity and enlightenment and moving away from the restlessness and anxiety that being in the dark can bring you.
so beautiful, poignant, absolutely incredible song, if you don't like it i would advise you to listen to it after you've been through something really difficult. i listen to this song when walking around the city and literally get the goosebumps if a stray of sunlight hits me. chris martin is a genius.
I agree with you completely
Wow... saweet. :-D
i love the 'slowly breaking through the daylight' repetition at the end of the song. it makes you almost feel like breaking though the daylight...
truly amazing song. Coldplay really shows how to feel things that are much significant to us.
Great song, one of my favorites on the album, but the lyrics are a bit off. It's hard to get them right, though, since they're so drawn out. Many listenings are necessary.
What?
yeah what are u talking about????
anyways... great song.