"Fix You" was written by all four members of alternative rock band Coldplay for their third album, X&Y. Despite being the lowest-charting single of the album, it is actually their most popular single of the album and is also one of the band's most popular songs aside from "Viva la Vida".Blythe Danner, the mother of Gwyneth Paltrow and former mother-in-law of Chris Martin, stated in an interview in May 2012 that he 'wrote the song for Gwyneth when her father died and I weep every time I hear it'.
"Fix You" is built around an organ accompanied by slow tempo drums and vocals. It was released on 5 September 2005 as the second single from X&Y and has reached number four in the UK charts.
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
I will try to fix you
High up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
"Fix You" deals with true love, helping someone in your time of need, and learning from your mistakes. Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin hasn't spoken about the specific inspiration for the song, but it could be directed to his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, who was dealing with the death of her father in 2002. In USA Today, Martin did say where the song started: "My father-in-law Bruce Paltrow bought this big keyboard just before he died. No one had ever plugged it in. I plugged it in, and there was this incredible sound I'd never heard before. All these songs poured out from this one sound. Something has to inspire you, and something else takes over. It's very cloudy."
The song has other fitting thoughts and themes. One of the big themes is a return home after having a severe moment of crisis. The first time I heard this song was at a funeral and when I reflected upon the lyrics I could not get the prodigal son in Luke 15 out of my mind.
Luke 15: 11-32 "11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son,you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
The desire to fix that which is broken is a constant in this song by Coldplay. "Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you" Incredible lyrics and the haunting way that this is sung puts this song at the highest level of rock songs in the 00's. You can here the prodigal son's father in this songs lyrics. In Luke 15 the son had at the very least disrespected his father, taken his dues and wandered away and done his own thing in life, come to his senses and then returned home. This song by Coldplay fits the fathers response, fits his heart and fits his compassion.
Jesus means the story of the lost son to be about the nation of Israel returning home. The listeners of his day did not all get the point. Some did and would have been heart warmed because of it. This passage is written for every person who is lost, last and least. The song as well as the passage in Luke is a statement of the Love of God to anyone who is broken. As well as the song "Fix You" is sung by the father in the passage irt is also sung by God in life. A desire in the heart of God for the life weary wanderers to come home. If you are out on a limb then know this that God has the welcome lamps lit for you, he sings and speaks over you "Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you"
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