The co-lead single from Everyday Life and lead single from ‘Sunset’, the second part of the double album, “Orphans”, tackles the Syrian Civil War. It showcases the story of a girl (Rosaleem) and her Baba (Arabic for father) who are now refugees and are met by what they believe to be the archangels,...
[Intro: Chris Martin & Choir, Moses Martin]
I want to know when I can go
Back and get drunk with my friends
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
Rosaleem of the Damascene
Yes, she had eyes like the moon
Would have been on the silver screen
But for the missile monsoon
[Refrain: Chris Martin & Choir]
She went (Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Indigo up in heaven today
(Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Bombs going boom-ba-ba-boom
She say
[Chorus: Chris Martin & Choir]
I want to know when I can go
Back and get drunk with my friends
I want to know when I can go
Back and be young again
[Verse 2: Chris Martin]
Baba would go where the flowers grow
Almond and peach trees in bloom
And he would know just when and what to sow
So golden and opportune
[Refrain: Chris Martin & Choir]
But he went (Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Tulips the colour of honey today
(It's true, true, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Bombs going boom-ba-ba-boom
He say
[Chorus: Chris Martin & Choir]
Oh, I want to know when I can go
Back and get drunk with my friends
I want to know when I can go
Back and be young again (Yeah)
[Bridge: Chris Martin]
Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh
Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh
Cherubim, Seraphim soon
Come sailing us home by the light of the moon
[Chorus: Chris Martin & Choir]
Oh, I want to know when I can go
Back and get drunk with my friends
I want to know when I can go
Back and feel home again
[Refrain: Chris Martin & Choir]
Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh
I guess we'll be raised on our own then
Woo-woo, woo-woo, ooh-ooh-ooh
'Cause I want to be with you 'til the world ends
I want to be with you 'til the whole world ends
[Outro: Moses Martin]
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
Boom boom kah, buba de kah
Boom
Orphans was written by Max Martin & Will Champion & Jonny Buckland & Guy Berryman & Chris Martin.
Orphans was produced by Federico Vindver & Angel López & Max Martin & Rik Simpson & Daniel Green & Bill Rahko.
According to Chris Martin, “Orphans” was one of the last additions to the album. They had the title figured out before they even had the actual song finished.
He also declared in a interview for ENTERCOM:
Chris Martin told ENTERCOM:
Sometimes we just trust our gut feeling and “Orphans” was the last song to arrive and it sort of demanded to be released first. I can’t really explain it. Maybe it’s because it’s the newest and we really like it. Could be as simple as that. Or also, the song is very unaf...