Poppyfields

This song and "Glass of Water" are my favorites from the EP, and should ahve been included in "Viva La Vida".

My interpretation of this song is that it is certainly a war/battle - but not in the way that you think. I don't believe that Chris is a writer that is necessarily obvious when it comes to songs such as these. Of course, this song has all the makings of a story about a real war, and Chris very well may have used one as a model. But I believe this is about a personal war within one's self, trying to figure out how to get out of it.

"I ask somebody what the time is, but time dosent matter to them yet."

This person is asking merely for help, for advice, but whoever they are asking can't help them, or dosent know how to answer thier question. They may see it as an akward situation and try to shy away from it, leaving the person in need lost again.

"People talking without speaking, trying to take what they can get."

This person and others like him are perhaps thinking to themselves, gathering thier surroundings or memories of thier own past, and trying to find solutions or answers. They are essentially talking to themselves in their mind, without saying it out loud. Talking without speaking.

"Drums! Here it comes."

The thing/thought/person that started the problem is approaching this troubled person - like the sound of drums signaling a battle - the internal battle is beginning for this person.

"Don't you wish that life could be as simple as fish swimming around in a barrell when you've got the gun?"

This person is wondering why this problem has to be so hard, and realizes that the outcome is in his own hands (when you've got the gun)

"Oh and I run, here it comes."

the thing/thought/person that started the problem is still coming, and this person decides to try and outrun it - think of other things, distract himself - run away.

"We're just two little figures in a soup bowl trying to get behind some kind of control, but I wasn't one."

The thing/thought/person has been chasing this person to his/her limit around what he/she may consider a limited space - he/she can only run so far (two little figures in a soup bowl), but the thing/thought/person has the upper hand, the advantage, and the troubled person fears it (but I wasn't one.)

"And here I lie on my own in a seperate sky. I don't want to die on my own here tonight, but here I lie on my own in a seperate sky."

This person cannot stand to be alone in this ordeal and is searching for anything or anyone that he/she can rely on to help him/her get out. This person feels apart from the rest of the world because he/she is perhaps not being listened to or considered (on my own in a seperate sky). This person feels he/she is on the verge of exploding or breaking down, and is afraid that if it is to happen, that there will be no one or nothing to help he/she recover (I don't want to die on my own here tonight). He/she then realizes that at this moment at least, he/she is are still alone and just thinking about it hasn't helped him/her make progress. A final realization of what he/she already knew - "But, here I lie on my own in a seperate sky."

The ending leaves the question open ended - does this person get the help they need? Do they get everything figured out? And perhaps leads the listener to wonder if they, themselves, are going through something similar. That is what I thought upon listening to it for the first time, and I consider it to be not only one of coldplay's best songs, but one of thier more thought provoking ones as well. I think it is proven by the many takes on what it means, which cements it's brilliance.

I think this is about World War 1... it really sounds like it's about a war. Poppies are a symbol of World War 1 because they grew in Flanders field after all the blood spilled there, so that's my interpretation of the title.

As with most if not all of you, this song has the mesmerizing effect of making me...Feel. Not many songs these days do but there's something about hearing Chris' voice resounding with that "Here I lie, on my own in a separate sky "...my mind is left dazed by this...everything from melody to lyrics just harmonizes with thoughts of life at times.

Is it a war song? maybe. But for me, it's simply put on of the most captivating songs ever penned. Hopefully somebody out there agrees with me.

I love this song! It's probably my favourite Coldplay song.

Yes, dramaelf - this song I believe refers to WWI as well. It is clearly about war, in my opinion...

"Drums... here it comes. Don't you wish that life could be as simple As fish swimming around in a barrel When you've got the gun?"

'Drums, here it comes' is showing the start of the war... soldiers would often hear the sound of drums when preparing to race out and attempt to invade enemy trenches. These lines clearly refer to the feelings of soldiers when they're carrying a gun, about to end another life and enter a warzone... frightened beyond belief...

This song is so emotional, and the lyrics are breathtaking. Each time I listen to this song it really pulls at my heartstrings, as the title 'Poppyfields' (the short instrumental afterwards) I believe refers to the poppies that grew in the battlefields of Gallipoli in WWI, after the tragic ANZAC campaign.

Of course, it may not be explicitly about the Gallipoli invasion - it's probably just about war in general, but that is just how I personally interpret the song and it holds a very special meaning to me.

"Here I lie, On my own, in a separate sky"

These lines really tug at my heartstrings. The way Chris sings them is so... heartfelt and beautiful. I believe they are from the viewpoint of a soldier in the middle of the battlefield, just at peace by himself amongst the horrible chaos and hell that is happening around him.

"I don't want to die On my own, here tonight."

Self explanatory... but so desolate and sad. The soldier doesn't want to die... away from his family, in a war he has no control over. The song is particularly sad because the entry of Poppyfields seems to imply an unsettling peace washing over the song... as though the soldier has, in fact, moved on and found peace elsewhere.

Probably my favorite off the EP. Really reminds of that old Coldplay sound(b-side songs, pre-Parachutes, etc), Then it has a little of that X&Y sound added to it.

Kind of wish they would go back to that sound =\

This is so gorgeous. Oh man. Beautiful song. Jon's guitar kicks in it makes this song sound almost ethereal...just beautiful.

i love this song! it's so awesome and i do wish life could be as simple as fish swimming round in a barrel when i've got the gun

Why did Chris Martin miss this song off the original Viva La Vida?! Its amazing, back to Parachutes days.

Yet here is another song I feel is Coldplay wanting to end their career. In History Prospekt willingly marched to his death along with his comrades. The members of Coldplay are constantly on tour and away from their families but to turn most of their time and energy to their family would mean they would have to put their career on hold.

"Now here I lie on my own in a separate sky And here I lie on my own in a separate sky I don't wanna die on my own here tonight But here I lie on my own in a separate sky"

Those lines are heartbreaking. As a celebrity he's high up in the air, adored but he's untouchable by many. He doesn't want to be alone on that distant plane, but that's the price you pay for being famous. He says he doesn't want to die on his own, but HE'S STILL on his own seperate sky. He's still famous, but he's ready to end it all. But as long as he's famous he's still going to be on his own seperate sky.

When I hear this song I just hope he makes the right descision, I love their music, but you shouldn't sacrifice yourself for fame or even your fans.