What does "Arabesque" by Coldplay mean?
“Arabesque” Lyrics Meaning
Coldplay’s recent release “Arabesque” is about bringing the similarities of people into focus, regardless of language, upbringing, or race. It uses metaphor and abstract imagery to paint a picture of what human beings share with each other: the same blood.
The word “Arabesque” has several definitions, but, because of the complex and layered production of the song, the one that probably inspired the title is this one: “a passage or composition with fanciful ornamentation of the melody.”
“We share the same blood”
By saying that we share the same blood, the lyrics are saying that we all want the same things: to be loved, to be seen, and to be accepted. And when we don’t get those things, we are all hurt. It relates to the phrase, “We all bleed the same,” which means that regardless of race, everyone is mortal. If you cut deep enough (metaphorically as well as literally), we’re the same. Everyone’s blood is red, and everyone has emotions and hopes and dreams and a past.
Verse 1 [Chris Martin]
I could be you, you could be me
Two raindrops in the same sea
You could be me, I could be you
Two angles of the same view
And we share the same blood
The first verse uses the metaphor of water to look at humanity from an abstract perspective. Individuals, here, are seen as parts of a larger whole. Whatever a person’s experiences, Chris Martin is saying that their life stories are “two angles of the same view” of humanity and life. The statement “I could be you, you could be me” is likely representative of a belief held by some, that birth is random and that there isn’t a guiding force behind what family someone is born into. He’s likely saying that if things had been different, they could have been born into the other’s life.
Verse 2 [Stromae, Will Champion]
Comme deux gouttes d’eau
On se ressemble
Comme provenant de la même mère
Comme deux ruisseaux (You could be me)
Qui se rassemblent (I could be you)
Pour faire les grandes rivières
And we share the same blood
Yeah, we share the same blood
The majority of these lyrics are in French, so here is the English translation.
Translation:
Like two drops of water
We look alike
As from the same mother
Like two streams (You could be me)
Who gather (I could be you)
To make big rivers
And we share the same blood
Yeah, we share the same blood
Stromae continues to use forms of water as a metaphor for how similar each individual is as a member of the human race. While “two drops of water” may be seperate, they are made of the same substance, which is what “Arabesque” is telling us. Though we may come from different backgrounds, or races, in the end “we share the same blood.” We’re all human, and in that alone there is a shared understanding and equality between us. This verse talks about the separate individuals gathering “to make big rivers.” The message of this verse is that if we were to focus on what brings us together, rather than what divides us and work together, we could make a bigger and more powerful impact on the world.
Sample [Fela Kuti]
Music is the weapon, music is the weapon of the future
This sample comes from a clip of the late Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician and activist. (Fun fact, Fela Kuti’s son and grandson play some of the instruments on this song.) Music has tremendous power, and in the context of these lyrics about unity across the world, this means that if everyone used the power of music instead of guns, the world would be a better place.
Deeper Meaning of “Arabesque” by Coldplay
Coldplay’s “Arabesque” is about unity in all of humanity. Deep down, people are a lot more alike than many want to believe. Even someone we dislike may have some of the same fears or hopes as us. More importantly, we are all created equal and no one is better than the other. We all have our imperfections and we all have our strengths. Though we may be created differently and choose to believe different things, those differences don’t need to divide us.
