"In My Place" by Coldplay

A Rush of Blood to the Head
Capitol
2002

This song explores Jesus’ vocation on which God imposed a specific script (described as lines). People in power also had a script in mind for Jesus but he constantly upset those expectations. Jesus’s followers (his disciples and those of us since) also experience the script we are to follow flowing from our vocation. Following the script sometimes brings pain and frustration so we cry out to God asking how long we have wait until the kingdom comes to earth and our hopes are fully realized.

In my place, in my place

Were lines that I couldn't change

I was lost, oh yeah

I was lost, I was lost

Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed

I was lost, oh yeah

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Yeah, how long must you pay for it?

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

I was scared, I was scared

Tired and under-prepared

But I wait for you

If you go, if you go

Leave me here down on my own

Well I wait for you

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Yeah, how long must you pay for it?

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Sing it please, please, please

Come back come sing to me

To me, me

Come on and sing it out now, now

Come on and sing it out to me, me

Come back come sing it

In my place, in my place

Were lines that I couldn't change

I was lost, oh yeah

Interpretation

In my place, in my place

Were lines that I couldn't change

I was lost, oh yeah

In this first stanza, Jesus describes his life. The “lines” he “couldn’t change” refer to his vocation as Messiah. Those “lines”, as in a script, would lead Jesus to one result: persecution and death. By remaining obedient to his vocation he would forfeit his life; he “was lost”.

I was lost, I was lost

Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed

I was lost, oh yeah

There were different “lines” playing out in Jesus’ life though these were imposed by the people around him. Jewish religious leaders drew certain lines in the sand and Roman authorities drew others. Jesus ignored these lines attracting hatred from both groups. He was lost since by physically crossing those lines he surrenders his life, literally.

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Yeah, how long must you pay for it?

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Jesus cries out asking how long until God is victorious (the first “it”), how long must the burden be carried (the second “it”), and how long until the Kingdom is fully established (the final “it”).

I was scared, I was scared

Tired and under-prepared

But I wait for you

Jesus’ followers are speaking now. They reveal their fear, fatigue, and lack of skill in the hours following the crucifixion. Many have lost hope and yet they continue to wait despite the fact that they don’t clearly know to expect Jesus’ resurrection.

If you go, if you go

Leave me here down on my own

Well I wait for you

After the resurrection, Jesus’ followers are faced with him leaving them again in the Ascension. They lament this separation but resolve to keep hoping and anticipating his return in glory. They begin to understand the grand scheme and though Jesus is going away for a time, they will wait for that time.

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Yeah, how long must you pay for it?

Yeah, how long must you wait for it?

Much like Jesus’ cry, his followers ask how long until he returns (the first “it”), how long they must face persecution and disdain (the second “it”), and how long until the Kingdom is fully established (the final “it”). Jesus’ followers wonder what God is waiting for; they are pleading for God to act.

Sing it please, please, please

Come back come sing to me

To me, me

Come on and sing it out now, now

Come on and sing it out to me, me

Come back come sing it

A combined song; Jesus singing to God and the disciples singing to Christ. The song they long to hear is the song of the Kingdom from Luke 4:18-19: good news to the poor, release for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, comfort for the downtrodden, the year of the Lord’s favor. This is the most beautiful of all songs.

In my place, in my place

Were lines that I couldn't change

I was lost, oh yeah

This is our cry. We who call Jesus ‘Lord’ will face the same “lines” as Jesus and his disciples. We have a script to follow, which will mean stepping over lines other people draw for us. If we pick up our cross we will be hated and persecuted. We can’t change that. Our lives are not our own. We forfeit them when we follow Christ.