"X Marks the Spot" is a song by Coldplay from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams. It is the eighth track on the album, sharing its position with lead song, "Army of One".
Background and recording[]
According to Chris Martin, the song was written in ten minutes and was included on A Head Full of Dreams as a last minute addition. He explained, "We did th[e song] with our sound guy Dan (Green) who makes tracks in his spare time. When the album was about to be handed in I asked Dan if he had any drumbeats, I wanted to send a video message to my brother. He gave me this thing he'd been working on, I made this silly message for my brother. I went upstairs for a drink and this melody and lyrics just came pouring through, I ran back down and asked Dan if we could use the track, we made "X Marks the Spot" in 10 minutes. F--- it, let's take a risk and put it on there. I love that song."[1]
In an interview for Rolling Stone, Chris revealed the song is his favourite off of the album, adding, "Most of the instruments on that song didn't exist when we made our first album. People who want us to be a rock band might be disappointed, but I don't think we really are a rock band."[2]
Composition[]
"X Marks the Spot" is a hidden track attached to "Army of One", played right after its end. It was produced and mixed by long-time band producer and sound engineer Daniel Green; this and "Colour Spectrum" are the only tracks held entirely by Green on the album.[3] The song was described as a "slow jam"[4] and "R&B-laced offering"[5][6], featuring Chris "spit[ing] rhymes through a vocoder over drum loops".[7]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
(So I race for it)
[Verse 1]
Stare into darkness, staring at doom
My heart, boom, b-boom, boom
Stare into darkness, admit defeat
Comin' home and I'm finding no peace
[Pre-Chorus]
And I know, and I know, and I know
I know I'm unlocked
And I know, and I know, and I know
I know what you've got
[Chorus]
So I put my hands up to the sky, I feel alive
You've got a rocket ship that I wanna ride
Put my hands up to the sky, that's alright
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
(So I race for it)
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
(So I race for it)
[Verse 2]
Stare into darkness, staring at doom
You make my heart go boom, b-boom, boom
Superhero, a masterpiece
Been innocent, but a sinner in me
[Pre-Chorus]
And I know, and I know and I know
I know I'm in love
And I know, and I know and I know
I know when I'm lost
[Chorus]
I just put my hands up to the sky, feeling like
Got a rocket ship that I wanna ride
Put my hands up to the sky, feeling inside
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
Put my hands up to the sky, feeling like
I've got a rocket, eyes on the prize
Put my hands up to the sky
I'm gonna find
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
So I race for it
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
So I race for it (yeah, yeah)
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
[Outro]
(So I race for it)
And I know, and I know, and I know
I know what I've got
(So I race for it)
"X" marks the spot
So I put my hands up to the sky, I feel like
I've got a rocket ship that I wanna ride
Put my hands up to the sky, feel it inside
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
Put my hands up to the sky, feeling like (yeah, yeah)
I got a rocket, eyes on the prize
Put my hands up to the sky, I'm gonna find
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure (yeah, yeah)
Wherever you are, I'll find that treasure
Audio[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/coldplays-chris-martin-tells-were-at-the-point-where-we-can-get-through-a-concert-without-playing-anything-sh/news-story/a2d6cdb7cfcde912b57c925bb42b6aed
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-martin-on-post-divorce-depression-coldplays-new-hippie-album-38145/
- ↑ https://i.imgur.com/q8yWQ27.png
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21321-a-head-full-of-dreams/
- ↑ https://www.gigwise.com/photos/104243/coldplay-head-full-of-dreams-new-album-review-tour
- ↑ https://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/a776064/coldplay-new-album-a-head-full-of-dreams-our-track-by-track-review/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-martin-on-post-divorce-depression-coldplays-new-hippie-album-38145/