The Scientist

Coldplay

About The Scientist

"The Scientist" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It is built around a piano ballad, with lyrics telling the story about a man's desire to love and an apology. The song was released in the United Kingdom as the second single from A Rush of Blood to the Head and reached number 10 in the UK Charts. It was released in the United States as the third single and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Adult Top 40 chart. Critics were highly positive towards "The Scientist" and praised the song's piano ballad and falsetto. Several remixes of the track exist, and its riff has been widely sampled. The single's music video won three MTV Music Video Awards, for the video's use of reverse narrative. The song was also featured on the band's 2003 live album Live 2003 and has been a permanent fixture in the band's live set lists since 2002. 


Year:
2002
5:09
39,100 
#93

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Come up to meet you
Tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh let's go back to the start
Running in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I'm going back to the start

(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
(Ah oh oh oh oh oh oh)

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Coldplay

Coldplay are a British Alternative Rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish.Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the line-up. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed themselves "Coldplay" in 1998, before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers & Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. more »

48 fans

Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Album and Release Date
"The Scientist" is a part of Coldplay's second album— "A Rush of Blood to the Head." The song was released as the second single from the album on November 4, 2002.
Critical Acclaim
"The Scientist" received widespread critical acclaim upon release. The song was praised for its lyrical depth, melancholic tone, and the performance of lead singer Chris Martin.
Unique Structure
Unlike most songs, "The Scientist" doesn't have a traditional verse, chorus, verse structure. Instead, it is built around a piano ballad with the main riff being repeated throughout the song.
Awards & Recognitions
"The Scientist" garnered several awards and nominations. It won a Grammy Award for 'Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal' in 2004.
Inspirations
Chris Martin, Coldplay's frontman, has cited George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" as the primary inspiration behind "The Scientist".
Chart Performance
The song peaked at number 10 on the UK charts and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was Coldplay's first top 20 hit in the US.
Backward Music Video
The music video for "The Scientist" was directed by Jamie Thraves and is notable for its narrative which runs backward, starting with the song's conclusion.
Achievements
As of 2021, the song has been streamed over one billion times on Spotify, making it one of Coldplay's most-streamed songs on the platform.
Lyric Themes
Though the lyrics of "The Scientist" are open to interpretation, many believe they express a person wanting to go back to the start to fix a broken relationship—hence the backward narrative of the music video.
Covers and Tributes
Due to its popularity, "The Scientist" has been covered by numerous artists, including Gwen Stefani, Willie Nelson, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Each version offers a unique take on the poignant ballad.
Usage in Media
"The Scientist" has also been used in various movies, TV shows, and commercials, including the movies Wicker Park and Crazy, Stupid, Love, and TV shows like The Big Bang Theory and CSI: Miami.
Song Score
Interestingly, the song is written in the key of F Major, and the time signature is 4/4 time, which is common in pop music.

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