The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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)
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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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.