New Song Review: "Violet Hill" by Coldplay

by Old Man

I am finally a Coldplay fan. It took me this long...and I can tell you why: 1) The lack of diversity in songwriting. 2) Lack of lyrical sophistication. "Viva la Vida" has both.

This album finally fulfills the potential of Coldplay - I predict this will go down as their "Joshua Tree ," which essentially means non-esoteric music lovers will find it the start of a beautiful friendship and reviewers from highbrow websites like Pitchfork will try their best to distance themselves. Here is my favorite song - but not by far, as there are a lot of gems - on the album.

Violet Hill

"Was a long and dark December, from the rooftops I remember there was snow, white snow
Clearly I remember from the windows they were watching while we froze down below

When the future's architectured by a carnival of idiots on show you'd better lie low
If you love me won't you let me know?

Was a long and dark December when the banks became cathedrals and the fox, became God
Priests clutched onto bibles hollowed out to fit their rifles and the cross was held aloft

Bury me in armor when I’m dead and hit the ground my love's opposed but unfolds
If you love me won't you let me know?

I don't want to be a soldier who the captain of some sinking ship would stow, far below
So if you love me why'd you let me go?

I took my love down to violet hill there we sat in the snow
All that time she was silent still

So if you love me won't you let me know?
If you love me, won't you let me know?"

Chris Martin and friends have written a wonderfully complex song that manages to critique the Bush administration and conservative power base (FOX becomes a God - he owns up to that reference in the Rolling Stone interview) without sounding, well, boring. Every rock musician on the planet who wants to make a living seems to be liberal - as if there job depended on it. But Martin doesn't sacrifice the conservative nation it's dignity and soul in the process of his critiques, and begs them like he begs his lover "If you love me, won't you let me know."

I think, from Martin's perspective, a gesture of love, of compassion, of embrace could go a long way. Sure, from his perspective, in our country money may be God and our president may be the de facto Pope (though i think that's a big stretch) and the church may be too uninvolved in the decision for or against the war, but his questions ultimately remains one from a lover to him. Do you love me? Do you? Show it.