Coldplay – Amsterdam

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  My Interpretation:I think that he wrote this song in desperation when he was suffering through something regarding his mental state of mind, hence the common reference to being "stuck in a hole," where the hole is actually his mind. When he mentions "oh my star is fading," he is talking about his happiness, and about how it is slowly fading, due to his state of mind. Additionally, he implies that there's no saving himself from this state of depression when he says "I see no chance of release," then says that he is "dead on the surface but screaming underneath," meaning that he may appear dead, and given up on the surface, but underneath it all he is screaming for help. Then when he says "time is on your side," he repeats it more than once, to emphasize that time is on his side, as a way of making himself feel better because he believes time will make his depression better, and the repetition of that phrase shows his desperation, and how hard he is trying to believe that time really will make it better. Then finally, when the song develops a stronger beat, the loudness of the new rhythm implies that he is done, and he can no longer handle it. When he's singing the verse about being "stuck on the end of this ball and chain," then saying how he's "on his way back down again," he literally means that his mental state is bad again, and he's on his way back down, as in being more and more depressed than he originally was. A slight notion of suicide is implied when he describes "standing on the edge, tied to the noose" because he is literally about to commit suicide since he is standing on the edge of jumping from the noose which he is tied to. Then when he says "You can say what you mean, but it won't change a thing," he is saying that no matter what you say, he made up his mind already and is taking his life. Then when he repeats the line "standing on the edge, tied to the noose," again, that just goes to emphasize how sure he is about taking his life. In my opinion, the final line "you came along and you cut me loose" is probably the most important because it is repeated twice as the final two lines of the song, and after he said that no matter what anyone says he is determined to take his life, someone (you) came along and cut him loose from the noose, and saved his life. So, although the majority of the song seemed melancholy, I believe it is about someone who came and saved him from his own mind, and self. This song has helped me in so many ways, I can't even describe.

  Flag radiohead6on May 15, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:To me this song is about depression and regret. He says he should have waited, but not what he should have waited for. Obviously it could be any number of things. Personally, I was in a situation where I tried to force a relationship and I ended up in a hole because of it. I was very depressed and it felt like time was indeed pushing me around because I needed to wait and I didn't know how to. My own inability to control my desire to be with this girl was more or less what led to me losing her, and I lost my head over it. If you've ever been depressed, you'd identify with the following line:
  "And I know I'm dead on the surface
  But I am screaming underneath"
  
  It's so unbelievably true for me, at least. I don't show my troubles or make them obvious, and no one knew what I was going through. On the inside I was so miserable, and I hated myself. I'm not in any way suicidal, but on a figurative level I can understand the part about being on the edge tied to the noose. Unfortunately for me, she left me hanging and I had to learn to cut myself down. But that's how life goes. It's still a beautiful song. You never think that you'd swerve out of control over someone like that, but then you do and it's like you really do need someone to cut you down. It took a long time for me to realize that I was the one who put myself in that position and that only I could get myself out. If only I'd waited

  Flag Brian902on November 28, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:nothing to say..
  
  it's breaking my heart..

  Flag annieqton October 20, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I think it's about someone in some kind of trouble, his experiences in this trouble and how someone rescued him.
  
  The exact nature of the trouble is kinda vague, but from the lyrics I think we can assume the trouble is not only self-inflicted, but self-perpetuating as well. He caused it himself through a mistake and cannot get himself out, so he needs someone to "cut" him loose.
  
  There are a couple of possibility that come to mind about the exact nature of the trouble. The first I can think of is addiction, to either drugs or gambling or some other self-destructive activity. The second is maybe involvement in some kind of illegal activity, getting mixed with the wrong people and being unable to untangle oneself from it.
  
  Regardless of what sort of trouble he is in, the singer has obviously been keeping it secret from his loved ones and pretending it's all good. But right "on the edge" when he is about to be consumed by his trouble or commit suicide or something, someone saves him.

  Flag zhangvicton May 19, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Whenever I feel really down and feel like my "star" is about to totally fade I listen to this song and it gives me light and I feel warm and it's such a great feeling that I can't really describe - this song has just helped me so much and it's one of the top beautifulest Coldplay songs ever.

  Flag LennonHarrisonFan96on February 07, 2012   Link

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    And another. Damn.

    Flag bellababyon February 07, 2012  
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  General Comment:The lyrics describe someone driven to despair, all the while trying to cover up what was happening as "no cause for concern." At the end, much like a friend opening up and spilling to another friend, a faster part of the song begins and the lyrics begin a confession of just how close to ending it all the singer really was... until the person he is singing to helped him out and in essence "cut him loose" from the rope around his neck. The title is unrelated to the lyrics. Chris Martin simply wrote this song while in Amsterdam.

  Flag FloridaGuyon October 10, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:This is obviously about Anne Frank. The songs called Amsterdam because thats where she was trapped in hiding for 2 years before she was found. Think about it:
  "my star is fading"- meaning Star of David
  "stuck in this hole"- stuck in hiding
  "i waited nd waited"- a way of saying i waited so long but i was captured anyway
  "i have to get out of this hole"- and then back to when shes in hiding, wanting to get out
  "But time is on your side, It's on your side now, Not pushing you down, And all around
  It's no cause for concern"- A way of interpreting what Anne was probably telling herself, like I'm sure I dont have to worry, the war will be over soon
  "And I see no chance of release, And I know I'm dead on the surface, But I am screaming underneath"- Anne saying im see no chance of maing it out alive, i dont show it, but im terrified inside
  "Stuck on the end Of this ball and chain"- Everyday, in and out, I have to do this over and over again
  "Stood on the edge, Tied to the noose, Sick to the stomach"- A way of interpreting her fear of being captured by the Nazi's or dying
  "you can say what you mean, But it wont change a thing"- we can be positive, but theres still a war outside of this building
  "I'm sick of the secrets"- Anne thinking I'm sick of not knowing why this is happening, and what COULD happen any moment
  
  
  Love Coldplay! Such a deep song!
  
  
  

  Flagged IndigoAtHearton July 16, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:The speaker longs to get out of a bad situation or stage in life, but just as he's about to despair, he's freed.

  Flagged ferrariguy90on May 19, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Rolled up into a ball on my bed, barely functional thinking...and listening to this song...
  It reminds me of my divorce. My now ex-husband decided unilaterally to end our marriage and was gone, like magic. "You can say what you mean but it won't change a thing" ...I wrote him for closure and he did not respond to me. I was left with my entire world crumbled and he was gone, like a ghost, like all of those years never happened. His not answering me made me feel even more like it was all a dream, like I hallucinated us together, that it wasn't real. Awful feeling. This song... is exactly how I feel.

  Flag Cofresion May 08, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:"And I know I'm dead on the surface, but I am screaming underneath"- I always get chills at that point. I just imagine being in the middle of nowhere and screaming my pain away, letting go, it's an amazing song and makes me want to face all these problems head on. Chris Martin is a genius

  Flag R3VEL4T10Non April 02, 2011   Link

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