anonymous October 14th, 2006 01:26AM  

Just a thought to the actual meaning of the song, I believe the white shadows have something to do with the good intentions of people. Most of you will admit that we people have mainly carnal desires we are selfish. And when we do something good it casts a white shadow that people can see. "feel like somethings missing" could be alluding to the enjoyment you get when you do something good. "maybe youll get what you wanted" reinforces that you are selfish. All this noise I'm waking up could refer to all the problems in the world that singer is just now starting to see. All that space I'm taking up, is the singer realizing how much he could be doing but is not. The system is that of our desires our selfish desires that keep bringing us away from the good will we want to do for others. But what is the answer the singer is seeking near the end of the song?

anonymous November 17th, 2006 07:38AM  

I feel this song is about a search for meaning/fulfillment and belonging to something that is bigger than ourselves.
White shadows sparkle *maybe* like stars which while individual are part of a whole. "blink and miss them" could be that somethings are ellusive or short lived. "maybe you'll stumble upon it" also shows the blind way we live our lives and maybe we need to keep that openminded innocence of childhood.

anonymous April 1st, 2008 12:57PM  

This song is a tribute to Gwyneth Paltrow's father, Bruce Paltrow, the famous Hollywood producer. Among the many shows to his credit was the '70s comedy-drama, The White Shadow, which was about a white high school basketball coach with a team full of black players. Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin is married to Gwyneth Paltrow; Bruce Paltrow died in 2002. (thanks, Raj - Atlanta, GA)

anonymous July 22nd, 2008 10:05AM  

I also think this song is about our selfishness and materialism of society, but also about the sense of being here and changing your view on life.

"When I was a young boy I tried to listen
And I wanna feel like that
Little white shadows
blink and miss them ..."

Children's view on life is different - they're innocent, honest and hold life in a different life's esteem.
The singer misses this state of mind.



"If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows
Sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan"

People just don't know what they're actually missing - but it's those "little white shadows, sparkle and glisten". The small things that are important.
Like said before, "part of a system, a plan" shows the longing for something bigger...

"Maybe you'll get what you wanted, maybe you'll stumbled upon it, everything you ever wanted, In a permanent state"
Shows the selfishness and materialism of society.
Like someone already said "stumble" shows we live our life in a blind way, only seeing the things we want to have...



"Swim out on a sea of faces
Tide of the human races"

Kin of shows the abundance we're living in...
The singer wants to escape from all the mass, the crowd of people.


"an answer now is what I need...

See it in a new sun rising
See it break on your horizon "

He needs a different view/ a clear view on his life because the mass of men and their selfishness made him see not clearly enough, so I guess he wants to find out what life is actually about and which things are really estimable.


I'm sorry for (grammar) mistakes - English isn't my mother tongue. I tried my best to put my thoughts into words and hope it makes sense. ;-)

anonymous November 3rd, 2008 11:31PM  

I've always thought this song was about a 1984-esque dystopia, but I think that's just me.
Let me explain.

So, the "white shadows" are where the complete brainwashing of society has begun to break for the singer. Like in the novel The Giver when the main character begins to see color against the will of the government oppressors. He's wondering if something's missing that he doesn't understand. These little thought glitches sparkle and glisten, but he's part of a system.

He says he's waking up to realize that he's a human being taking up space in a world he's previously never questioned. His assumptions (forced on him by society) are breaking up.

His society obviously came into place because the people were insecure. They thought they knew everything they ever wanted, so they got it... In a permanent state.

But this singer remembers when he was a young boy and his mind was open to listening. Something it has since been closed to.

He's recognizing that this sea of humanity he's in is being manipulated. He claims to need an answer that maybe these white shadows can provide.

All in all, this is just an overview of my opinion on the true meaning of this song. Maybe it will encourage new thought in the future.

anonymouse May 24th, 2009 11:13AM  

There could be several interpretations but for me it is referencing true love. Maybe we don't wait to find the right person or when we do we can't bare to accept that anything could be so perfect so we don't trust our feelings and let it pass. On those rare happenings when two people are drawn together and magically know that they belong together. It is intuitive... It is being in touch with our inocent side ...the side that gets spoilt by negative experiences as we walk on through life. The conversation is between two people who have found something that was missing..everything they ever wanted from a partner.....in a permanent place ...meaning forever despite their current circumstances. The white shadows are there if we look for them..the glitter of hope.