When it started we had high hopes
Now my back's on the line
My back's on the ropes
When it started we were alright
But night makes a fool of us in daylight

Yeah we were dying of frustration
Saying "Lord lead me not into temptation"
But it's not easy when she turns you on
Since they gone

If you'll only, if you'd only say yes
Whether you will's anybody's guess
God only, God knows I'm trying my best
But I'm just so tired of this loneliness

So, up they picked me by the big toe
I was held from the rooftop, then they let go
There's only screaming
Let the windows, down
As I crawl to the ground

If you'll only, if you'd only say yes
Whether you will's anybody's guess
God, only God knows she won't let me rest
But I'm just so tired of this loneliness
I've become so tired of this loneliness


Lyrics submitted by motbob, edited by feirorum, BIRDDUDE830

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

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Yes song meanings
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65 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I think, like most people said, that the song is mostly just about sexual temptation of some kind ... basically, the singer wants a specific woman to say yes to having sex with him - perhaps premarital, prehaps extramarital. But for me, personally, I tend to intentionally skew the meanings of songs to apply to my own life, and so, for that, I allow it to just mean that I'm looking for a certain guy to say yes to being with me, in general, ignoring the specific sex aspect.

    sweetsongson December 13, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Isn't it blatantly obvious? Chris Martin is married and is temped to sleep with another woman. Point blank. Its the first thing i thought when I heard it and it was so clear to me. I actually thought it was somewhat controversial considering he is in such a high profile marriage and I immediately wondered what other people were thinking about this. Anyone? I would think Gwenyth would have freaked out when she heard her husband singing this song. I dont know. i think its crystal clear the guy is singing about his marriage that stared off with high hopes but is now a lonely mess, and he is now turned on by someone else and wants to give into temptation, but knows it is wrong. He is tormented by whether or not to say yes. i feel like he has to be writing from personal experience here and I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this. Pretty scandalous stuff.

    kidAAAAAon September 29, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    my girlfriend gave me the small enlightment. It has alot to do with christianity and sex, so what i think is, that the person is talking about how they started a relationship but found out that waiting for sex after marriage was euhm... pretty frustrating?

    "When it started we had high hopes; now my back's on the line, my back's on the ropes... When it started we were alright, but night makes a fool of us in daylight."

    "If you'd only, if you'd only say yes. Whether you will is anybody's guess. God only, God knows she won't let me rest, but I'm just so tired of this loneliness. I've become so tired of this loneliness. "

    Still today, many christians believe that having sex before marriage is a sin into the eyes of God, so i think this about hoping God will forgive this "sin".

    A man who can't take it anymore to wait, he is 'tempted' to have sex.

    well, that's my interpretation, hope you can see what i mean.

    Christiaan33on June 11, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's a very different song for them, but still another amazing achievement. I agree what the other posters have said about the sexuality expressed in the song.

    lalunacrecienteon June 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I interpret this as a song of infidelity, and the temptation he refers to is that of adultery, and the frustration deals with the sexual temptation of the 'third party'. However, this means that the 'we' in the first verse is the married couple, but after that it's he and his potential partner.

    tylerfairon June 18, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    so i'm trying to get that second half of the song....and i'm hearing something like this...

    ohhh oooo

    (X2) promise me come with me stay in each others spot...? life? stay in each others spot ? (i have no clue its hard to tell)

    (X2) soon soon

    follow me follow me

    stay…. Who knows…I REALLY need help with this its driving me crazy

    stanthemuzicfan87on June 30, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    one word three letters .... SEX.

    and I love love love this song!

    britishmusicisbetteron March 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    First off, LOVE this song. I's nice to hear Chris sing in a lower range for once.

    The interpretation I get from "Yes," is this: The singer is in a relationship (or married to) with a woman that he loves very much, but there's another woman who he is attracted to more than his girlfriend/wife, and he wants to have sex with this woman. But he's torn because he loves his girlfriend/wife, but he can't help but feel attracted to this other woman. And he knows that if his girlfriend ever finds out that he's attracted to another girl, he's in hot water with his girlfriend/wife.

    gillianwhitfieldon February 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well, you gotta lose the exclamation point.

    But otherwise, this is probably the coolest song on the new album. Not something you'd expect from Martin and Co....I refers to someone who does not want to give in to sexual temptation but can't help it because of his loneliness. I love the string-and-tablas arrangement, gives the song a harder-edged quality.

    tcaporaleon June 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it* in place of "I"...

    tcaporaleon June 05, 2008   Link

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