Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. For track 11, it is stadium-shaking rock anthem ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay.
Fix You – Coldplay
Few songs can be as simultaneously heart breaking and heart-warming as Fix You by Coldplay. Arguably the best of their now signature stadium anthems, Fix You is a celebration of those who care about us enough to help through the rough times. Underpinning the track is a message about accepting help even when we feel like it won’t make a difference or we don’t deserve it.
The story behind Fix You
The origin of Fix You sets the tone for its lyrics and composition. Following the death of Gwyneth Paltrow’s father Bruce, her then husband and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin penned the song to help her through her grief. Martin had intended to use a church organ for the track. But in a beautiful and tragic twist Martin was unable to access one and instead used an old keyboard that Bruce Paltrow had bought shortly before his death.
“My father-in-law Bruce Paltrow bought this big keyboard just before he died. No one had ever plugged it in. I plugged it in, and there was this incredible sound I’d never heard before. All these songs poured out from this one sound. Something has to inspire you, and something else takes over.” Chris Martin.
What followed was a track that Martin himself described as “probably the most important song we’ve ever written”.
In times of trouble we can end up turning away help from friends and loved ones. Fix You reminds us that those same people want to be there for us. Not out of a sense of obligation or duty. But out of their love and care for us.
They may not be able to fix us but in times of trouble we should let them at least try.
