Coldplay: Speed of Sound Meaning

Song Released: 2005

Speed of Sound Lyrics

How long before I get in?
Before it starts, before I begin?
How long before you decide?
Before I know what it feels like?
Where to, where do I go?
If you never tried, then you'll never know.
How long do I have to climb,
Up on this side of...

1. anonymous

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   Mar 23rd 2007 !⃝

   It's about blind men.
2. anonymous

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   Mar 16th 2007 !⃝

   Bats leave the cave as the Tsunami approaches at 500 mph.
3. anonymous

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   Jan 28th 2007 !⃝

   Hey! Leave my blindness interpretation alone!!
   You are all taking it too literally. The stuff that others said about visions of the mind and seeing the world in different ways is what I was trying to express, but perhaps I didn't do it very well. Because this person is blind, he can't literally see, that's true. But the line "when you see it then you'll understand" is about seeing in different ways, such as through sound and touch and smell, and those who are fortunate to have sight don't understand how that works, and they never will. So it doesn't actually mean that this persons sight will be restored, or that others will go blind in order for them to understand. In fact, I think that the final line "WHEN you see..." is actually more of an expression of hope that we can eventually learn to understand one another, and not just concerning blind vs seeing either, but all types of people.
   Anyway, it was just something I heard and liked. I'm not claiming that I'm right and everyone else is wrong, all responses are equally valid.
   I think it's amazing that one song can be interpreted in so many ways and touch so many people on so many different levels. It just goes to show that Coldplay are an awesome band to achieve that!!
4. anonymous

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   Jan 24th 2007 !⃝

   Alright, let me get this straight... You guys actually believe that this song is about blindness??? I'm sorry to break the news to the blind community, but the song is clearly about acid. The song begins, "How long before I get in? Before it starts, before I begin?" In that opening statement he is describing what every person feels when first drop acid; the hour or so of apprehensiveness before the drug kicks in. The remainder of the song describes what an acid trip is like, perfectly, to a tee. I've listened to this song many times and I never understood it, until I tripped on acid. Tonight I listened to the song for the first time since I tripped. Immediately, I knew it was about acid. The song ends, "if you could see it then you'd understand, ah, when you see it then you'll understand." Obviously, if you have never tried lsd then you might struggle to make the connection. Regardless, please do not opine in disagreement until you try acid. BTW- I've never closed my eyes sober and seen birds flying or japan lit up, and I doubt know of any blind people that have bragged about having such visualizations either.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Jan 12th 2007 !⃝

   While the song is great, this group is not deep and you are giving them too much credit. It is about a person who is fascinated by the progress we (humans) have made in airplane technology.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. DaneFil

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   Dec 16th 2006 !⃝

   This song is about having so many ideas, but having no clue how to figure it out. He is wondering how people got those lights up in Japan and China, he wonders how everything was made, and how he can make his ideas come to life.
7. anonymous

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   Nov 23rd 2006 !⃝

   I just think this is an empty song. I mean, a set of words put together, that sound great when listened to "within" the right music (melody).

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Nov 17th 2006 !⃝

   If this song is truly about a blind person, then why do they say: when you see it then you'll understand
   
   It's not as if this friend is going to get cured of blindness.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
9. anonymous

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   Oct 14th 2006 !⃝

   Ok after long thought this is my two cents. What travels at the speed of sound? Words correct? All words travel at the speed of sound. Things you can not event are emotions or feelings, you can't invent feelings. All that noise and all sound are problems that the birds or words tell us about. The underground is the mouth. While the heavens, the planets moving at speed of light and such, is thought. I take that back the blind persons interpretation makes a lot more sense. Wow never would've thought of that! When you see it, brilliant not with your eyes with your ears brilliant.
10. anonymous

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    Aug 15th 2006 !⃝

    Everytime I listen to this great song I just get the impression that it's about being on tour. The demands, the pressure and the constant expectations but also the incredible highs of a super band. "if you could see it then you'd understand"
11. anonymous

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    Aug 7th 2006 !⃝

    I heard that it was written about a friend of one/all of the members of coldplay who is blind. It is about how he has a different outlook on life than those who can see. "all that noise and all that sound... Birds came flying from the underground if you could see it then you'd understand.” “ideas that you'll never find/all the inventors could never design…the sign that I couldn't read, or a light that I couldn't see, some things you have to believe, but others are puzzles, puzzling me.” He sees the world by hearing, which means that he can “see” things that others can’t. And the “puzzles” are things that people have told him about that he has never known or experienced because he’s blind.
12. anonymous

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    Mar 16th 2006 !⃝

    This song is about England and about his life.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
13. anonymous

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    Dec 11th 2005 !⃝

    This song is about somethings that you cannot invent, like birds flying. It's talking about how ideas keep on coming out but no one can do it and somethings are better left unsolved.

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