Coldplay & Jesus

Seven Coldplay lyrics that have bolstered my faith in Christ

Although not a professing Christian, Coldplay’s front man Chris Martin was raised in an evangelical Christian family, so it’s no surprise that many of his songs bleed the redemptive language that shaped his upbringing. Because I am often engrossed in the music that makes up the Church’s gathered times of worship, when I need a change of pace, God often speaks to me through songs outside of the ones we sing on Sunday mornings. Coldplay’s catalogue figures significantly in that realm.

In no particular order, here are 7 of my favorite Coldplay songs/lyrics, along with how they have ministered to me in my walk with the Lord.

(Disclaimer: I am no doubt taking liberties and inferring some meaning that wasn’t intended by Chris, but these lyrics are powerful nonetheless — if you’d like to listen to the whole playlist, here you go: Spotify / Apple Music / Youtube / Amazon)

1. Higher Power, Music of the Spheres

Sometimes I just can’t take it, and it isn’t alright
I’m not gonna make it…
Till You tell me on Your heavenly phone
To hold tight…
This joy is electric, and You’re circuiting through
I’m so happy that I’m alive
Happy I’m alive at the same time as You
You’ve got a higher power
And You’re really someone I wanna know…
For so long, I’ve been down on my knees
Till Your love song floats me over…
— Higher Power, Music of the Spheres

I mean, is there a better description of connecting through the Holy Spirit to the Father, when the circumstances of life are beyond our control? Joy in pain? Peace that passes understanding? God’s love lifting me as I worship on my knees…

2. Cemeteries of London, Viva la Vida

I see God come in my garden
But I don’t know what He said
For my heart it wasn’t open
— Cemeteries of London, Viva la Vida

This one is about surrendering control. Anytime I come to God with an expectation that He will say or do some specific thing, I set myself up for disappointment. His ways are higher. His thoughts are higher. And the only way for us to hear Him is humility. Beyond that what He’s doing will be good, I don’t know all the ins and outs…but what a thrilling way to live! To be expectant for Him to move and speak, but to have no idea how He’s going to do it.

3. Swallowed In The Sea, X&Y

Oh what good is it to live?
With nothing left to give?
Forget, but not forgive
Not loving all you see?
— Swallowed In The Sea, X&Y

This song hit me hard at a time when I was struggling to forgive someone in my life. It’s crazy to think, but opportunities to forgive people can actually be a gift from God. Not that He causes the harm or desires it, but that in the grand scheme of Him working all things together for the good of those who love Him, He gives us a chance to participate in His love breaking into the world through forgiveness and grace.

4. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, Mylo Xyloto

Don’t wanna see another generation drop
I’d rather be a comma than a full stop
Maybe I’m in the black
Maybe I’m on my knees
Maybe I’m in the gap between the 2 trapezes…
So you can hurt, hurt me bad
But still I’ll raise the flag
— Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, Mylo Xyloto

Institutions can be a great thing. But institutionalism can really drag you down. Professional Christians and corporate Christendom can hurt people so bad. The thing is, true Christian service has a much deeper baseline and foundation. I serve the risen Jesus and I’m part of His living body of believers. So when I think about passing the torch to the next generation, I remember that keeping Jesus at the center is the best thing I can do to help ensure we don’t see “another generation drop”.

5. The Karate Kid, Moon Music

As much as I tried
I just couldn’t seem to find the light
The trees for the wood
The wars left and right
Umbrellas with the raining…
I didn’t know someone felt that way too
Maybe we can share the rain
Maybe we can dance again
Maybe we can make the sky turn blue…
— The Karate Kid, Moon Music

“We” is the operative word here. Sure, this lyric is a bit sappy. But it’s been speaking to me along the same lines as a lot of other pop culture media lately—namely, that life is not meant to be lived alone. Not sure about you, but my tendency is not to give community a second chance. The risk of pain is just too tangible sometimes. But you find out soon enough that the pain of being alone is even worse. So after you’ve licked your wounds awhile, you gotta take the risk of opening yourself up to do life with your brothers and sisters again. There’s no such thing as solo Christianity. (Side note: the nostalgia is so full-on in the official music video for this song!)

6. When I Need A Friend, Everyday Life

Holy, Holy Dove descend
Soft and slowly, when I’m near the end
Holy, Holy, dark defend
Shield me, shoulder me, when I need a friend
Slowly, slowly, violence end
Love reign o’er me, when I need a friend
— When I Need A Friend, Everyday Life

Not really much explanation needed. I love the old-timey-ness of this beautiful song. It’s a hymn of solace that always lifts me, and I sense the nearness of God.

7. Up & Up, A Head Full of Dreams

See the forest there in every seed
Angels in the marble waiting to be freed
Just need love…
You can say what is or fight for it
Close your mind or take a risk
You can say it’s mine and clench your fist
Or see each sunrise as a gift
— Up&Up, A Head Full of Dreams

Potential. Faith means believing in the potential of something that doesn’t actually exist yet, or at least isn’t fully actualized yet in your reality. I love this back and forth of believing for something, fighting for it, then resting and trusting … letting go. Realizing that somehow the gift of our existence is something both to be received thankfully and sown diligently.