Coldplay – Warning Sign

• +1
  Memory:Everytime I hear this song, I think about what could have been with a girl that was essentially "the right person, at the wrong time". Two years have passed and it still hurts when I hear this song, especially because we had a discussion about it back then trying to figure out what it meant. Little did I know at the time that she was actually sending me a message. What a fool I was.
  
  In the end, it really was terrible timing for me (without giving details). And I felt like I really did "miss the good part" because I was looking for excuses. We had a really special relationship going for us, and she was willing to live with me, wanted to meet my family, etc. It really left me in such a state that she was all I could think about because she was "an island and I passed (her) by". Though I've finally learned to accept things and move on, I do still miss her sometimes.
  
  It all does sound a bit silly, but this song will always have a deep connection with me, like many other Coldplay songs already do. Each one of their songs has a different meaning and connection for me, and it's just amazing how well they can convey these stories through music. I believe that in rough times, it really is music that carries us through our funk. I hope the next Coldplay album comes back to stories and songs of love and troubles.

  Flag xero987on March 07, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:I love this song. Here's what I think it was all about, though its one of those songs that can resonate with a lot of love situations I think. Anyway.
  
  A warning sign
  I missed the good part, then I realized - This refers to when you miss the best part in a relationship, I think. The love and butterflys in the beginning
  I started looking and the bubble burst -When he started overthinking the relationship, it ruined the happiness.
  I started looking for excuses - Started looking for a reason to end the relationship.
  
  Come on in
  I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in
  I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones - yelling
  That I started looking for a warning sign
  
  When the truth is
  I miss you
  Yeah the truth is
  That I miss you so - he really misses her.
  
  A warning sign
  It came back to haunt me, and I realized
  That you were an island and I passed you by
  When you were an island to discover - after everything had ended, thinking it over, he realized what a treasure he lost
  
  And I'm tired
  I should not have let you go - wants her back, realizes what he lost.
  
  So I crawl back into your open arms
  Yes I crawl back into your open arms
  And I crawl back into your open arms
  Yes I crawl back into your open arms - she accepts him back? :)

  Flag rosematazzon January 27, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:To me, this song brings up the question of "what if"? What if he and I had kissed on that pier? He was the warning sign - the one my heart was telling me that I should be with - yet I stayed with the other guy, and now the truth is that I miss him so badly. Although he was never mine, I shouldn't have given up without kissing him before I walked off that pier. That one kiss could have saved me so many years of heartache. Instead, I walked away thinking he hated me.

  Flag jrh927on September 30, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:Like a lot of people here, this means a lot to me because of relationship troubles. I've basically been stuck in the friend zone for months with this girl who I love a whole lot, and I keep on "looking for excuses" for why I should just leave her behind. But I can't. I just can't leave her behind. When I first met her, I was interested in someone else, and I didn't realize how amazing this new girl was until it was too late. I "passed that island by" for two months, and I was stuck in the friend zone. A couple months ago, I finally worked up enough courage to tell her my feelings. She was nice about it, and you know told me "We could still be friends." That was definitely the "bubble bursting" for me. Ever since then, she says everything is ok but she keeps giving me mixed signals, somedays wanting to talk with me about everything. The next, being one of the coldest human beings I've ever known, trying to end conversations with me before they begin. And it's killing me. And I miss the old her. The one before I said anything to her. The one I could joke around with, who always had a smile on her face, who would laugh at my bad jokes... I miss that. I want to tell her "what state I'm in," but I just know that'll be the end. Worst part is no matter what, I can't get away from her because I see her every day whether I want to or not, and every time I see her I fall in love again. So I just want to say thank you Coldplay. Thank you because this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks to all of you, cause I know I'm not alone.

  Flag Solkattuon September 01, 2012   Link

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• +2
  Memory:This song is so beautiful and so depressing.
  I had this friend whom i deeply fell in love with. We had a lot of memories and he led me on. But there were warning signs everywhere and my illusion disappeared like a bubble burst. so finally i stopped being his doormat. I told him we are over and never to call me again. It has been nearly a month. Everyday i opened my eyes, breathe, live but the truth is i really miss him, i miss him a lot. I am looking for excuses to have him back in my life. I am tired and i miss him.
  At the end of the song.. "so i crawl back into your open arms". The saddest truth is there is no open arms waiting for me which makes this song even depressing for me.

  Flagged ..liz..on July 24, 2012   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:Like a lot of you here, I came across this track (as opposed to skipping it again) when I was going through a hard time with a girl. This is so right, and I'm lost.

  Flag robbiebubleon June 20, 2012   Link

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• +5
  My Interpretation:This song is beautiful and very painful to hear at the same time, it's actually pretty hard to describe in my own words how I really feel about it and how it speaks to me, but I'll try...
  
  It's actually something that is overcoming me right now, which is that I'm desperately in love with a girl who has fallen in love with someone else. As they got together and she told me, I felt so sad but at the same time I was very happy for her... after she told me that she fell in love with that guy I couldn't help but explain the love I had for her all this time. Day by day we talked and talked and talked... but it wasn't the same as before, it wasn't the same as when she didn't have a boyfriend.
  
  And it really wasn't getting better between the two of us anymore because I kept trying to win her for myself which was really selfish of me, so we talked about it and we both decided that we have to take measurements on how we are going to maintain our friendship. We both agreed to not talk to each other so often anymore as we would.
  
  It went well for awhile, but 'the bubble burst' and even after our promise I still desperately tried to let her fall in love with me. 'I started looking for excuses' on how we should talk more with each other again, because basically everything she does or says makes me fall in love with her all over again. It has now kind of gotten out of hand, because I couldn't control my feelings for her anymore, I loved her so much. Even though I tried and tried to hide my feelings as much as I could, it didn't work out.
  
  Two days ago she told me that it is really bothering her that I give her attention which she should actually get from her current boyfriend and started to feel things for me every time I talked to her and contemplated about whether she should remove me from every single social media connection, to spend more time with the guy she actually fell in love with in the first place. She did remove me in the end...
  
  And now I'm kind of stuck and listening to this song over and over again, desperately hoping that she'll realize that 'I was an island and she passed me by', that 'I was an island she still has to discover'. I want to tell her on this moment but I can't anymore, but if I could... 'I want to tell her in my loudest tone' that..
  
  The truth is,
  
  That I miss her so much...

  Flagged kma88on November 19, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:I love that so many people can relate and have their own personal interpretation of this song. It's beautiful and I think it would be hard to listen and not feel anything. "When the truth is, I miss you." <--simply brilliant

  Flag gnugenton September 21, 2011   Link

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• +2
  My Interpretation:This song to me tells the story of someone who has doubt about someone so they break up with them without a valid reason 'looking for a warning sign' but then realises that they love that person and want to go back... This song holds a special place in my heart as I would like this to happen to me. I fell in love with someone and they broke up with me. I want them to realise that they love me like I love them and we can get back together. This song gives me hope that it will happen. Although I believe I am just deluding myself

  Flag littlemissindieon August 07, 2011   Link

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• +1
  My Interpretation:This song is so beautiful and painful. I'm honestly really glad to see that so many others find this song relatable. That's what I live about Coldplay. With their songs, although the meanings seem clear, there's always room for interpretation.
  Here goes...
  I'm in love with someone. When I first met him, I liked him. We got together and everything was illuminated by my happiness. But, I began to doubt my feelings for no reason. So, I looked for excuses or a "warning sign" to get out of it. I don't know why I did this, but I did. I was stupid and hurt him. I wasn't sure of my feelings, so naïve, and now I am. He was "an island to discover", but I passed him by. Truth is, I miss him and should not have let him go. I AM tired - of thinking, regretting, laying awake as he's off in bootcamp. I want to tell him that I love him. I want to crawl into his arms, but I fear they won't be open.
  I heard "Warning Song" recently and it made me shake. No song has ever come this close before. It makes me cry. Coldplay, thank you for being the band to mend my heart, lift my spirits, inspire me, and soothe me to sleep.

  Flag nudepuppeton July 31, 2011   Link

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