Fix You

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Lore & Background

The song is a sobering meditation on grief in the face of the death of a loved one; frontman Chris Martin developed the song to comfort his then-wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, after her father Bruce Paltrow died. The anthemic track builds around an organ accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar, and develops into a spirited second half with group vocals, drums, and strings. The hopeful message of the song, and its two-part arrangement, were critically acclaimed. The power ballad has been performed at memorials such as by Coldplay at the One Love Manchester benefit concert in 2017. In September 2021, the song was ranked number 392 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

In Their Own Story

Musically, the track begins as a hushed electric organ ballad in E♭ major, featuring Martin's falsetto and a main chord progression of E♭–Gm–Cm7–B♭. The tempo sits at 69 beats per minute with vocals ranging from B♭2 to B♭4. As the song progresses, it builds through acoustic guitar, piano, and string instruments before shifting to a plaintive three-note guitar line driven by rhythmic drums. The bridge expands into a blend of electric bass, synthesizer, and an anthemic singalong chorus, culminating in a spirited second half with group vocals and strings before returning to the melancholic piano of the opening. In performance, this structure has turned memorials into moments of unity; notably, Coldplay performed it at the One Love Manchester benefit concert in 2017 for bombing victims and streamed it at Apple CEO Steve Jobs' private memorial service on October 19, 2011, where Martin recalled Jobs initially doubting the band's success upon hearing "Yellow."

Reader's Guide

The song features an organ and piano in the key of E major. Its main chord progression is E–Gm–Cm7–B. The time signature is 4/4 and the tempo is 69 beats per minute. Chris Martin's vocals on the track range from the low note of B2 to the high note of B4. It begins as a hushed electric organ ballad, with Martin's falsetto. The song then builds in acoustic guitar and piano, accompanied by the sound of string instruments during the beginning choruses. The melody shifts to a plaintive three-note guitar line, ringing through a rhythmic upbeat drum tempo. The song transitions to its bridge, which expands into a blend of piano, electric and bass guitar, drums, and a singalong chorus with an anthemic feel. Electronic sounds from a synthesiser join during the second half of the bridge. The song ends with the beginning chorus, with slow, melancholic piano notes being played in the background.

Did You Know?

• The song was inspired by Martin's wish to continue helping Paltrow get through her grief after her father's death.
• Martin said the song's composition is influenced by English alternative rock band Elbow's 2003 anthem "Grace Under Pressure".
• All of Coldplay helped in writing the song; bassist Guy Berryman observed that "Fix You" takes "a bit of inspiration" from "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff.
• The music video was directed by Jake Scott and filmed at the end of two concerts on 4 and 5 July 2005 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England.
• In response to Hurricane Katrina, all sales of the Fix You EP went to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief and the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund.