“When you get what you want but not what you need,” these are lyrics to a song called “Fix You” by Coldplay. To me these lyrics can mean a lot of things, but to get a better sense and idea for the song I analyzed the meaning of the entire song, the rhyming pattern, and assonance used in the song.

“When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can’t replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse? “

In the first two verses the authors are trying to describe the feeling of melancholy or depression. He also uses an AAAB rhyming pattern. The song writer uses assonance in the first three lines of each verse. Then in third verse (chorus) he uses assonance in the words ‘guide’, ‘ignite’ and ‘try’. And he rhymes ‘bones’ and ‘home’ to create an AAB rhyming pattern.

Throughout the song the authors are describing how this person feels (presumably a girl) and they intends to fix you. They continues to use the AAAB rhyming pattern, expect for the chorus and verse 7 where he used ABAC pattern.

“Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I…”

To me this song gives me hope because it’s saying even when you’re in the darkest moments there will always someone who’s trying to “Fix you”. This can be a universal theme because people from anytime and from anywhere can relate to the theme.

Throughout the song he uses a rhyming pattern and assonance which makes it flow together. This song can relate to any generation or anyone, and can give them hope in the darkest times.