A Message

Album: X&Y (2005)
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Songfacts®:

  • The lyrics and melody were inspired by the hymn "My Song Is Love Unknown," which was written in 1664 by English composer John Ireland. Lead singer Chris Martin has described this as his favorite hymn. He told Q magazine: "There's quite a big church influence (on the band). Because we all grew up singing in assemblies every morning. Of course. When you think about it, the most music we heard up to the age of 17 was singing hymns every day in school. Didn't most people? In assembly?"
  • Chris Martin told Rolling Stone July 14, 2005 that he wrote this on a guitar, sitting on a sofa naked. He added: "I made sure that all the right bits were warm. There were about five songs on X&Y that came out of nowhere - it was like pulling them out of a hat. In the middle of the night I thought I was either going to be sick or go write that song. So the song just came up, then I went back to bed."
  • Coldplay sang this on the charity telethon, Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, which was held on January 22, 2010.

Comments: 3

  • Toy StoryI love this song. I see it as a direct message to me. I see his love. I'm a bit terrified that he wrote it naked but it is a beautiful song.
  • Andrea from Sønderborg, DenmarkHe wrote this naked. And you are right, Troy, so true.
  • Troy from Orem, UtWell I'm not sure what exactly Chris Martin is talking about in this song, but I interpereted it for myself and I love it. There's a girl I'm crazy about and I love her. I told her I love her but I'm not sure how she feels. Like the song says, ". . . and I'm not gonna take it back, and I'm not gonna say I don't mean that." Those words are so true.
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