Analysing "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay

Analysing Christmas Lights

by Coldplay

Christmas night Another fight Tears we cried a flood Got all kinds of poison in Of poison in my blood I took my feet to Oxford street Trying to right a wrong "Just walk away" those windows say But I can't believe she's gone When you're still waiting for the snow to fall Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all Up above candles on air flicker Oh, they flicker, and they flow And I'm up here holding onto All those chandeliers of hope And like some drunken Elvis singing I go singing out of tune Singing how I always loved you, darling And I always will Oh, when you're still waiting for the snow to fall It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all Still waiting for the snow to fall It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all Those Christmas lights Light up the street Down where the sea and city meet May all your troubles soon be gone Oh, Christmas lights keep shining on Those Christmas lights Light up the street Maybe they'll bring her back to me And then all my troubles will be gone Oh, Christmas lights keep shining on Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, Christmas lights Light up the street Light up the fireworks in me May all your troubles soon be gone Those Christmas lights keep shining on

Lyrics

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Feild

P- Primary Feild of ChristmasE- "snow" "lights" "christmas'E- Emphazizes that this song is still a christmas song, even if its more melencholy than typical christmas songs

P- Seconday feild of SorrowE- "tears" "cried" "fight"E- Shows this is'nt a normal cheery christmas song. The writer feels alone and sad during a time of joy

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Function

P- Primary Function Interactional long term - to entertain the audience by telling a storyE- hyperbole in the metaphor " Tears we cried a flood" and "Poison in my blood" use of short simple sentencesE- Short sentences retains the audiences attention - like if a story was being told. Similarly, the use of metaphors and hyperbole creates a fantasy setting and makes the plot of the song more interesting and enjoyable for the audience to listen to

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Audience

P- Addressing someone in the audience - the song is written about an undisclosed personE- Direct adress "You're" and "we"E- Synthetic Personalisation (Fairclogh) could evoke emotion (pathos) as it could be relatable to some people in the audience about feeling sadness during Christmas when seemingly everyone is happy during the holidays.

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Mode

P- Written, not spontanious text - feels like a peronal letter or diary entryE- 1st person " I " and "my" - past tense "took"E- The use of first person creates a more intimate and personal atmosphere - as though its a written letter or diary thats being read out. This shows that the text is writing typical. Theres also a lack of spontanious typical features such a fillers and voices pauses.