"Yes" is a song by British rock band Coldplay from their fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008). It is the sixth track on the album, sharing its position with the hidden song "Chinese Sleep Chant".
Background and composition[]
"Yes", especially its tuning, was originally inspired by the American rock band The Velvet Underground. Its main characteristic is the low vocals by Chris Martin; this was suggested by producer Brian Eno, to add variation between the songs on the album. "Yes" also features strings arranged and played on an electric violin by musician Davide Rossi, a frequent collaborator of the band.[1]
In an article for Rolling Stone anticipating the album, Evan Serpick writes: “Martin's vocals take center stage like never before: sounding more aggressive and strong than ever, they sit on top of an irresistible North African string-and-tablas arrangement and ache more convincingly than all the lilting falsetto in the world”, describing the piece as Coldplay's freshest song since their debut album.[2]
Lyrically, the song is about love, sensuality, temptation (as in the passage: “Lord, lead me not into temptation, / But it's not easy when she turns you on / Sin, stay gone”) and loneliness (“I've become so tired of this loneliness”). Chris Martin himself called "Yes" a “sexy” song, but “written for another character”, saying that he is “just pretending to be someone else in there.”
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
When it started, we had high hopes
Now my back's on the line, my back's on the ropes
When it started, we were alright,
But night makes a fool of us in the daylight
[Verse 2]
There we were dying of frustration
Saying, “Lord, lead me not into temptation”,
But it's not easy when she turns you on
Sin, stay gone
[Chorus 1]
If you'd only, if you'd only say yes
Whether you will's anybody's guess
God, only God knows I'm trying my best,
But I'm just so tired of this loneliness
[Interlude]
Hey!
[Verse 3]
So up they picked me by the big toe
I was held from the rooftop, then they let go
Dizzily screaming, “Let the windows down!”
As I crawl to the ground
[Chorus 2]
If you'd only, if you'd only say yes
Whether you will's anybody's guess
God only, God knows she won't let me rest
But I'm just so tired of this loneliness
I have become so tired of this loneliness
Official audio[]
Yes