Look at earth from outer space
Everyone must find a place
Give me time and give me space
Give me real don't give me fake
Give me strength reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Give me time give us a kiss
Tell me your own politik

And open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes

Give me one, 'cause one is best
In confusion, confidence
Give me peace of mind and trust
Don't forget the rest of us
Give me strength reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Wounds that heal and cracks that fix
Tell me all your politik

And open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Just open up your eyes

But give me love over, love over, love over this, ah
And give me love over, love over, love over this, ah


Lyrics submitted by BuckWilder

Politik Lyrics as written by Guy Rupert Berryman Christopher Anthony John Martin

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Politik song meanings
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98 Comments

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  • +8
    General Comment

    I thought I'd share something that I found to be particularly unique about this song. Many of you have commented on the lyrics and some have certainly alluded to the music from this song. Interestingly though, I think that it is the two together than makes this song incredible.

    The lyrics at the beginning of the song (whether they are political or personal...i tend to think that they are both) point to a certain unrest that Martin is feeling. For him, something isn't entirely right with the current state of things. He calls us out as listeners, asking us to consider what we believe (tell me your own politik) and to wake up and look around at what is happening (open up your eyes). Throughout the first half of the song we see a seemingly frustrated Martin singing. The music that backs up the lyrics certainly expresses this frustration, this unrest. It's almost as if the band wrote the music for the first half of this song specifically with a certain sense of disorder and chaos to compliment the lyrics.

    But then, something changes. A few piano-driven chord changes lead to one of the most beautiful melodies I've heard in awhile. Whatever chaos reigned before in the song is almost instantly forgotton about. Martin profoundly (and simply) declares the focal point for which the song is pulled from its chaotic and frustrating state into a more peaceful, more hopeful, and more beautiful environment during the second half of the song. This focal point is love (but give me love over this).

    There are few songs that I know of that bring the lyrics and music together so well as Politik does. I think this is, for me, why this song is so powerful, because the music has its own message in and of itself (from chaos to harmony)...

    rtb3on January 10, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    If the above could spell I'd have more sympathy.

    Firstly, to the song - it's not just about 'politics' in the shallow sense, i.e. Tony Blair/George Bush politics - it's about PEOPLE's politics. I think the line 'tell me your own politic' is the most important in the entire song, personally, as it's almost the narrator crying out for some tolerance and some diversity in THE WAY WE THINK. That's what politics are - not government, that's entirely seperate - it's about how we think and feel.

    Anyway, back to the post above, let's rip this particular patriot to pieces.

    "the United States is basically the superpower of the world" -firstly, this doesn't make you most important. People are equal, which is why I don't care for 9/11 any more than for the victims in the Crusades and the thousands you yourselves have killed over the decades.

    "that doesn't really leave hope for the rest of the world" -i hope you know your economics because without the US the world would be a much more free and liberal place to live your life. We can get on fine without you, you arrogant f**ker.

    "9/11 was the worst thing to happen to this country in a very long time" -so? I will not support terrorism on any level but you had it coming to you and how does this relate to the argument anyway? It still wasn't AS BAD as the events in Israel and Africa, so why give it such significance? Oh wait, because you're a superpower. so your lives matter more than others. That's about right. You might be the richest nation on Earth - you're also the f**king thickest.

    "The United States gives millions and millions of dollars to other countries when they have tragedies" -here I get angry. Most of the ills in the world are caused by your own nation, yet you have the cheek to 'repay' a tiny amount of reparations money to 'compensate' for what you've done, and this is meant to heal all wounds? F**king good one.

    Don't preach at people to become more educated when you yourself are just an overly patriotic sheep following the preachy nature of everything taught to American kids. 9/11 was no worse than any other disaster or war that has ever occurred and it is a f**king atrocity when americans come on threads like this one saying "its probably about 9/11, after all, everything IS". This song is NOT about 9/11 and we really do not CARE ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT IT. That said, Helicopter by Bloc Party is about George Bush so go read.

    3lanceron April 12, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Why do people see this September 11th as so "big" and important to be remembered, ok it was a sad thing (sorry if I sound cold) but...what about the people in Israel, the thousands of people who suffer and die every day in Africa and India ? Really this stuff with September 11th makes me angry because we from the highly inidustrial countries seem just to care for ourselves, when we get "attacked" we strike back and oh we mourn so much with ourselves, by doing so we forget the ones who really "earn" mournings and memories. Sorry if I overreact for you!

    AgathaKavkaon September 02, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    in the CD booklet it says its about making fair trade policies. chris wrote it after a trip to latin america with some trade organization.

    mike2fekon March 09, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    frustration. not knowing who you are. the goodness in you. suffering. the will to live. science. pain. wanting time to slow down. emptiness. reaching out. loneliness. loving life in spite of the pain. wanting to face the hardships. impotence (the human condition). love is the answer. life is the answer. live and let live.

    udaybaytaron March 11, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Coldpaly wrote this entire album after 9-11. Think about this song... which is the first on "a rush of blood". It could mean so many things, but I think it means about how we all need to take a step back and look at how the world interacts with itself. (open up your eyes)

    EMOtional_Kidon September 02, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I completely agree with you. the way that people are only able to unite around a common hatred is profoundly disturbing to me. there is so much anger and death in the world and blind hatred and we ignore it because it isnt happening to us. september 11 was sad and awful but so is war and suffering in general. including the suffering we create. I see this song as saying something along those lines..."open up your eyes" and "give me love over this"

    this is a great song.

    joyouslyinsaneon September 07, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think it's about 9/11 at all... Okay, maybe a little, but it's also about the rest of the countries who have poor trade laws and about the wars past and the wars present. Make Trade Fair!

    carmson September 24, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    some of the lyrics hint not only to how polictics is a bunch of bullshit sometimes, but about how you should be REAL to yourself and do things out of want, not because you are trying to uphold this wall in front of yourself by impressing people.

    Strokin_iton April 22, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    to me, this song is about personal growth and internal struggles. and a personal need to find ones own place in the world, a journey of the soul and their meaning of life. this song is my own personal anthem at the moment. whether or not this song was written in with the intent that i am taking it in as, this song just reaches out to me to my core. he's put into words everything i feel ive been struggling thru in my own introverted world of trying to figure this life thing out and how others are reacting towards me because of this. the misunderstanding of my pulling away from social interaction. I LOVE THIS SONG! haha.

    karenotoon January 17, 2008   Link

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