Introduction - 'Violet Hill' Lyrics and History Analysis
Introduction to my Music Video
My name is James Whiffing and I enjoy listening to the likes of Coldplay and The Black Eyed Peas. For my music video, I have chosen the anti-war protest song 'Violet Hill' by Coldplay. Upon studying the lyrics of the song, I found that the band use symbolism and repetition to get across their political message to the audience. Within the lyrics, Coldplay continuously refer to the media, religion and war, and how people need to wake up and understand the misdeeds happening in the world around them.
'Violet Hill' Lyrics Analysis
In the music video, Chris Martin (Coldplay's lead singer) plays the role of a soldier at war. The first stanza of the song mentions that "There was snow, white snow". In a metaphorical sense, snow conceals and covers up things, so Coldplay could be referring to the fact that deception is everywhere and many things aren't as they seem; the media often conceal the truth from readers by forging fake news.
The next stanza then goes on to say "clearly I can remember from the windows they were watching while we froze down below". "They" could be referring to leaders/figures of authority that are watching soldiers they sent out to die in the harsh conditions of the battlefield whilst they are protected and watching on. Also, it is worth noting that some soldiers might not believe in the cause they are fighting for.
The third stanza then says "When the future's architechtured by a carnival of idiots on show, you'd better lie low". This line references the media once more, and the Governments/leading authority figures. It again connotes the idea of the media hiding the truth from people and forging their own fake news, and people begin to believe the fake news as the truth without researching from other perspectives which say otherwise and prove the fake news wrong. Furthermore, it suggests the fact that different types of media put a political spin on the fake news they produce, with their view depending on whether they are left or right wing (e.g. - CNN pushes for a liberal world through an almost idealist philosophy, whereas Fox News tries to use 'scare tactics' to frighten their viewers/listeners away from change).
Then, the song goes on to say "you'd better lie low", which could be the biased media sources telling the people of society not to question them and remain silent. The chorus of the song then plays: "If you love me won't you let me know". This could be a reference to sending the soldiers out to get killed.
Next, the song says "It was a long and dark December when the banks became cathedrals". Here Coldplay are trying to suggest that people are worshipping money instead of God; people have become very greedy in this sense. They also say "the fog became God" which suggests that people use God to justify things like war and death. This line is also the transition into the Religious aspect of the song. The next lyrics are "Priests clutched onto bibles, hollowed out to fit their rifles, and the cross was held aloft". This is a reference to how Religion today is used to justify violence. Priests hold onto the bible which preaches to love thy neighbour and that everyone is God's child etc, while underneath the cover it is hollowed out to hide a rifle. Religion has been the main cause for wars over the Centuries (from the Christian Crusaders to the six day Arab - Israeli War). Religion is supposed to bring humanity salvation, but instead is another unreliable theatre of influence; this is one of the messages that Coldplay try to get across in the song.
The next lyrics in the song are "Bury me in honour, when I'm dead and hit the ground, a love back home unfolds". Here the soldiers are admitting defeat and admitting that they have been fooled by the theatres of influence (e.g. - the media and Religion); they have dragged them into a war; deceived them into fighting in a cause they don't believe in/agree with. The soldiers are also accepting defeat/death here, and when they do die, they will not be able to protect their family and others from the theatres of influence that doomed them. This line is also a reference to the thousands of soldiers who have died in 'The War on Terror'. The song then goes on to say "I don't want to be a soldier, who the captain of some sinking ship, would stow, far below". Here, soldiers are talking about how they regret taking up the position of a soldier, and that they are doomed. Again, "the captain of some sinking ship" is the idea of a leader who does not care about the safety of their soldiers, so can survive their own errors whilst others (the soldiers) have to die for their mistakes.
The penultimate stanza starts with "I took my love down to Violet Hill". "Violet Hill" is the name of a road close to Abbey Road, where the Beatles lived.
The next stanza then goes on to say "clearly I can remember from the windows they were watching while we froze down below". "They" could be referring to leaders/figures of authority that are watching soldiers they sent out to die in the harsh conditions of the battlefield whilst they are protected and watching on. Also, it is worth noting that some soldiers might not believe in the cause they are fighting for.
The third stanza then says "When the future's architechtured by a carnival of idiots on show, you'd better lie low". This line references the media once more, and the Governments/leading authority figures. It again connotes the idea of the media hiding the truth from people and forging their own fake news, and people begin to believe the fake news as the truth without researching from other perspectives which say otherwise and prove the fake news wrong. Furthermore, it suggests the fact that different types of media put a political spin on the fake news they produce, with their view depending on whether they are left or right wing (e.g. - CNN pushes for a liberal world through an almost idealist philosophy, whereas Fox News tries to use 'scare tactics' to frighten their viewers/listeners away from change).
Then, the song goes on to say "you'd better lie low", which could be the biased media sources telling the people of society not to question them and remain silent. The chorus of the song then plays: "If you love me won't you let me know". This could be a reference to sending the soldiers out to get killed.
Next, the song says "It was a long and dark December when the banks became cathedrals". Here Coldplay are trying to suggest that people are worshipping money instead of God; people have become very greedy in this sense. They also say "the fog became God" which suggests that people use God to justify things like war and death. This line is also the transition into the Religious aspect of the song. The next lyrics are "Priests clutched onto bibles, hollowed out to fit their rifles, and the cross was held aloft". This is a reference to how Religion today is used to justify violence. Priests hold onto the bible which preaches to love thy neighbour and that everyone is God's child etc, while underneath the cover it is hollowed out to hide a rifle. Religion has been the main cause for wars over the Centuries (from the Christian Crusaders to the six day Arab - Israeli War). Religion is supposed to bring humanity salvation, but instead is another unreliable theatre of influence; this is one of the messages that Coldplay try to get across in the song.
The next lyrics in the song are "Bury me in honour, when I'm dead and hit the ground, a love back home unfolds". Here the soldiers are admitting defeat and admitting that they have been fooled by the theatres of influence (e.g. - the media and Religion); they have dragged them into a war; deceived them into fighting in a cause they don't believe in/agree with. The soldiers are also accepting defeat/death here, and when they do die, they will not be able to protect their family and others from the theatres of influence that doomed them. This line is also a reference to the thousands of soldiers who have died in 'The War on Terror'. The song then goes on to say "I don't want to be a soldier, who the captain of some sinking ship, would stow, far below". Here, soldiers are talking about how they regret taking up the position of a soldier, and that they are doomed. Again, "the captain of some sinking ship" is the idea of a leader who does not care about the safety of their soldiers, so can survive their own errors whilst others (the soldiers) have to die for their mistakes.
The penultimate stanza starts with "I took my love down to Violet Hill". "Violet Hill" is the name of a road close to Abbey Road, where the Beatles lived.
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