Clocks

Coldplay's 'Clocks' is a song that resonates with the feeling of being caught in the relentless passage of time and the desire for redemption and clarity. The opening lines, 'Lights go out and I can't be saved / Tides that I tried to swim against,' evoke a sense of struggle and defeat. The protagonist feels overwhelmed by the challenges they face, symbolized by the tides, and is brought to a point of desperation, pleading for help or a sign.

The imagery of shooting an apple off one's head, reminiscent of the story of William Tell, suggests a dangerous gamble or a critical moment of truth. The 'trouble that can't be named' and the 'tiger's waiting to be tamed' could represent internal conflicts or societal pressures that are difficult to articulate and confront. The repeated line 'You are, you are' serves as a mantra or a realization, though it's left open to interpretation who or what 'you are' signifies. It could be a person, a higher power, or an aspect of the self that the singer is trying to reach or understand.

The chorus brings in the central metaphor of 'Clocks,' with 'closing walls and ticking clocks' symbolizing the inescapable nature of time and the pressure it creates. The singer acknowledges that time will 'come back and take you home,' suggesting an inevitable return to a beginning or an essential truth. The question 'Am I a part of the cure? Or am I part of the disease?' reflects a moment of self-reflection, questioning one's role in the problems they face. The song concludes with a longing for 'home,' which could be interpreted as a place of comfort, understanding, or resolution. The repetition of 'home' emphasizes the depth of this yearning, while the phrase 'nothing else compares' underscores the unique significance of this concept to the singer.