Coldplay: Swallowed in the Sea Meaning

Swallowed in the Sea Lyrics

You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that's what made me see
Where I was going wrong
You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   XtremeHairball

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   Sep 3rd 2011 !⃝

   This isn't going to be a very short interpretation, but I believe that this song requires a bit of in-depth metaphorical thinking to truly make sense of.
   
   It seems to me that this song is definitely directed toward an individual of romantic significance. It appears to have an undertone of guilt, and it largely seems to identify the ongoing loyalty of the artist's partner.
   
   
   The first stanza indicates two things:
   
   1. The artist's partner goes to great lengths (metaphorically cutting down and moving an entire tree), which exemplifies something that the artist (as indicated by himself) lacks.
   
   2. The artist's partner keeps and presumably values the artist, and this makes the artist the only one to blame (possibly because the "blame" involves commitment, which the artist is claiming to have neglected)
   
   
   This theme continues throughout the song, and the artist seems to indicate that, while he may spend his time doing extraordinary things (writing songs and traveling and whatnot), his partner still holds on to him and "cuts him down to size" as a regular person, not just a music star. As such, he still has hope to live a life with something "left to give" in terms of a real, personal relationship, as opposed to simply being swallowed by the "sea" (perhaps a metaphor for "the masses" or "pop culture" or other large, incoherent body without an identity).
   
   It seems to be a song of gratitude and guilt directed towards the artist's partner.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   Nicole M. Perez

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   Sep 6th 2011 !⃝

   The song was written for Gwyneth Paltrow during the time she was dealing with her father dying of throat cancer. Chris also wrote Fix You due to the same circumstances.
   
   On an interview Gwyneth said she can't listen to Swallowed in the Sea and not cry.
3. anonymous

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   Apr 7th 2020 !⃝

   This song helped me mourn my father's death. "not swallowed in the sea, you belong with me" this part kept assuring me he lives on in my heart.
4. anonymous

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   Jan 12th 2016 !⃝

   They're talking about a book!!!!!
   "tree"
   "Write it down"
   "get lost and then get found"
   
   See?!

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Aug 3rd 2014 !⃝

   To be swallowed in the sea can mean also to die..may be the song is tribute to the dead partner who helped and sopported the person who sings the song and now he's terribly missed by him..

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   Oct 23rd 2012 !⃝

   for me i think this song is about a breakup and the guy will do anything to get back with the girl
   
   ...........
   
   i know its stupid XD

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