Oh brother, I can't, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don' know what to do
Oh brother, I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future, and I wanna talk to you
Oh, I wanna talk to you

You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or a write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done

Are you lost or incomplete?
Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece?
Tell me, how do you feel?
Well, I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak
And they're talking it to me

So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Or do something that's never been done

So you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk
And you feel like you're going where you've been before
You tell anyone who'll listen, but you feel ignored
Nothing's really making any sense at all, let's talk
Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk


Lyrics submitted by delial, edited by Plans

Talk Lyrics as written by Ralf Huetter Emil Schult

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Talk song meanings
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111 Comments

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  • +9
    General Comment

    wow. its the story of my life..

    really. holy crap.... it scares me a bit. DEFINITELY about confusion and being lost. oh yes. and possibly knowing somebody else who is in the same situation and you want them to be with you but at the same time they're playing a big role in your confusion.

    i love coldplay and i am thrilled about their new album...

    digitalloveon May 18, 2005   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    I totally agree with many of you. This song is about uncertainty for sure. But it could apply to many people because it does not specify that it is about uncertainty in love, in relationships, in friendships, in your career etc . . . For me, it totally makes sense because sometimes I "feel like a puzzle" I can't find my missing piece. LIke, for me, I've got what I want and then some . . .but ther'es something missing still. Sooooo coool that they can just put down in words thoughts I couldn't pinpoint myself. But growing up is not lame. You just need to know that life is one big roller coaster ride. As much as we may feel lost, we just need to remember that it is an adventure, and it is fun!

    It's cool because Colplay answers the question about what this person should do. Climb a ladder up to the sun, do something that's never been done. They're telling us to get out there and live our lives to the fullest. There are no limits and life is what you make of it. I love it. It is so inspiring and it really helps when I feel lost . . .

    beachyh2oon June 18, 2005   Link
  • +5
    Memory

    When I listen to this song I always think of my older brother...I can relate to this song when life seems a mess and you just don't know what to do. I look up to my brother as someone I want to be more like. So I feel like if I really need someone to talk to about life, my brother is a place I would go. Just thought I would share that about this song...wonderful song great lyrics! Yeah Chris!

    ketg4uon June 05, 2009   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Coldplay received permission from the Electronica band Kraftwerk to use the main riff from their song "Computer Love" for this, replacing Kraftwerk's synthesizers with guitars, and at the same time creating a completely different song.

    FloridaGuyon October 10, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    When asked about the song, Champion: "It started off with a Kraftwerk sample [it nicks the riff from the German technocrats' Computer Love]. Chris wrote a letter to Ralf [Hutter, Kraftwerk kingpin] in German." Bassist Berryman: "The record company said, 'This has to be the first single.' So we scrapped it, re-recorded it, scrapped it." Martin: "I flew back to New York for a day and mixed it. Then I was able to enjoy it as a song, rather than 1012 ideas that weren't right."

    JJH070583on June 01, 2005   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    Near the end of the music video, the robot turns itself to a 'dazed' mode, While they keep saying 'lets talk". It is possible for someone to go into an emotional 'freeze mode'. Not happy nor depressed, just kinda there. Maybe when the person he's been trying to talk to in the song responded too late before he went into this 'freeze mode'.

    TheSkinnyElephanton August 30, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    yes i think this song is about being lost. im so glad that they are starting to come out with new songs.

    Muzikboion April 11, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Shadowsoal2000: I'm an admin, so I usually restrain myself, but, that has got to be one of the most creative, yet most completely retarded comments ever.

    Sorry, I tried to be nice about it, but I just couldn't sum it up any better than that.

    brianon September 25, 2005   Link
  • +2
    Memory

    This song has given me a lot of comfort the past month since my brother Max died. I interpret it as someone who is trying to reach their brother because he is now in Heaven. This person is scared about the future without him because this brother has guided this person throughout their entire life. All this person wants to do is talk to the brother and have the brother send one message to let that person know that he's alright.

    I actually have received a message from Max, letting me know that he was alright. It was a dream. It's wonderful to have music and dreams to remember our loved ones by. This is the only way we can get by in this painful world sometimes. Things just aren't fair sometimes..

    kewatterson November 07, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ok this is weird, I have TALK and the lyrics don't match the song. What the hell? Ive looked at other sites and the lyrics are the same but they don't match the song.

    Under the great big stars Try to work out where you are In the silence of the sea...

    Those are the first lyrics... I dont get it...

    Anyway, I'm a big fan of KRAFTWERK and I have to say that Coldplay did a good job by using a "Computer Love" riff.

    Mode000on June 03, 2005   Link

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