The third track of X&Y, “White Shadows” was given its name as a tribute to Bruce Paltrow, Chris Martin’s (deceased) father-in-law, a Hollywood producer whose credits included The White Shadow, a 70s series about a White basketball player on an all-Black team.
[Verse 1]
When I was a young boy, I tried to listen
And I wanna feel like that
Little white shadows, blink and miss them
Part of a system, I am
[Verse 2]
If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan
[Pre-Chorus]
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
All this sound is breaking up
Ohhhhhhhh
[Chorus]
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
And when you find it, you'll keep it
In a permanent state, a permanent state
[Verse 3]
When I was a young boy, I tried to listen
Don't you wanna feel like that?
You're part of the human race, all of the stars and the outer space
Part of the system, a plan
[Pre-Chorus]
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
I cannot hear, you're breaking up
Whooaaaaaaa
[Chorus]
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
And when you find it, you'll keep it
In a permanent state, a permanent state
[Outro]
Swimming on a sea of faces, tide of the human races
Oh, an answer now is what I need…
See it in a new sun rising, see it break on your horizon
Oh, come on love, stay with me…
White Shadows was written by Chris Martin & Will Champion & Jonny Buckland & Guy Berryman.
White Shadows was produced by Guy Berryman & Will Champion & Chris Martin & Jonny Buckland & Ken Nelson.
Coldplay released White Shadows on Mon Jun 06 2005.