Coldplay – Death and All His Friends

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  My Interpretation:This is my favorite Coldplay song by far. I've seen them twice on the Mylo Xylotour and I am hoping to go again next month. Amazing live. I would give anything to see a Viva concert, but those are long over. Anyway, this song evokes feelings. No matter where I am. If this song comes on shuffle, I literally have tears in my eyes. It is so beautifully written and it is pretty much my life philosophy. "So come over, just be patient, and don't worry" has to do with my life Bible verse, Matthew 6:34. And the lightness and mellow tone of Chris's voice when he sings this is lovely. Perfect even. And the chant at the end, "No I don't want to battle from beginning to end, I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge,
  I don't want to follow Death and all of his friends" means to stay away from all of the temptations and evils of this world. Using "Death" as a proper noun, or name, has a really big effect on me, it just makes it more personal. And I think everyone struggles with Death's friends, whatever form they may come in. I watched a Coldplay interview and Chris said the reason they chant all together at the end is to remind themselves not to follow all of the bad things in life. I love that they all sing it because it becomes more powerful. This song has at least 200 plays and counting on my iPod. I hope Coldplay continues to create such wonderful songs like the ones that were on the Viva album.
  xx

  Flag maries15on August 07, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:So maybe I am reading way too much into this, but I think not. The track is entitled "Death and All of His Friends". Many people believe that organized religion focuses too much on death and not enough on living the life we have. ( I am not saying I agree with this). And forget the earlier part, but the second part of the song where he says "I don't want to battle from beginning to end" seems a reference to Valhalla and the Nordic belief that after death in battle, one continued to engage in battle over and over in the after-life. "...A cycle of recycled revenge" could be an obvious reference to the Hindu belief in Karma (recycled revenge) or even Judeo-Christian beliefs that what we do in this life follows us into the next. "I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends..." He doesn't want to focus so much on death, and all of his friends (religion), he just wants to enjoy and live the life he was given.

  Flag cbottomssron December 14, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Chris Martin revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that it was producer Brian Eno who came up with the line "I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge." The Coldplay frontman explained: "I had this blank spot in the lyrics: 'I don't want to battle from beginning to end. Something, something, something. I don't want to follow death and all of his friends.' So we were all having a sandwich, and it's like, 'I don't want to watch too many episodes of Friends? No, that won't do. I don't want to listen to Radiohead's The Bends? No. I don't want to eat any Jerry and Ben's? No.' And then Brian came out with the line, and he was like, 'I quite like that. You should use that.'"
  
  Chris Martin told MTV News: "Well, this is supposed to be the theme of the album, really. We're aware of all the bad stuff in life, you know - i.e. Death and all his friends - but that doesn't mean you should ever give in to it, you know? So we all sing that bit together really loudly, as kind of a message to ourselves: never giving up and never focusing on the bad stuff too much."

  Flag FloridaGuyon October 10, 2011   Link

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  Lyric Correction:The last four lines are actually a different song called "The Escapist." Look it up on coldplay.com.

  Flag StudlyOwlFilmson September 12, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Sounds like the song's about letting go of old grudges and severing ties with the bad parts of your past and just enjoy the life you are blessed to have.

  Flagged McDooglzon July 23, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:sorry I wrote it twice accidentaly, anyway whatever, please someone explain me.

  Flag LonelyForeveron March 17, 2010   Link

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    So maybe I am reading way too much into this, but I think not. The track is entitled "Death and All of His Friends". Many people believe that organized religion focuses too much on death and not enough on living the life we have. ( I am not saying I agree with this). And forget the earlier part, but the second part of the song where he says "I don't want to battle from beginning to end" seems a reference to Valhalla and the Nordic belief that after death in battle, one continued to engage in battle over and over in the after-life. "...A cycle of recycled revenge" could be an obvious reference to the Hindu belief in Karma (recycled revenge) or even Judeo-Christian beliefs that what we do in this life follows us into the next. "I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends..." He doesn't want to focus so much on death, and all of his friends (religion), he just wants to enjoy and live the life he was given

    Flag cbottomssron December 14, 2011  
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  General Comment:I know this is gonna sound stupid, but I still don't get it, who are "all of his friends"?
  Could anybody tell me, please?

  Flag LonelyForeveron March 17, 2010   Link

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    Death and all his friends, AKA the other 3 horsemen, AKA War, Famine and Pestilence. Or however it's spelt.

    Flag Virtualhellokitty320on May 24, 2010  

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    All of the things that go along with Death, like whatever temptations and evils we give into. They all kill us in their own way.

    Flag maries15on August 07, 2012  
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  General Comment:I know this is gonna sound stupid, but I still don't get it, who are "all of his friends"?
  Could anybody tell me, please?

  Flag LonelyForeveron March 17, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:One of the best things I've heard.
  
  

  Flag Veronicaxxxon February 04, 2010   Link

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  My Interpretation:Death and all his Friends, is traditionally thought to be disease, depression, evil thoughts, and so on..."I don't wanna cycle (recycle revenge)" he doesn't want to fall into the demoralizingly evil downward spiral. He doesn't want to turn out like Noel and Liam lol.

  Flag AdmiralLordNelsonon January 20, 2010   Link

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