Coldplay Scientists and the sunshine of Ironbridge

“Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions”.

Ironbridge Gorge in the winter sunshine of 6th March 2024 (Author’s Collection)

Driving to Ironbridge this afternoon I listened to Coldplay’s first album “Parachutes” and so you’d be forgiven for thinking that I’d use the lyrics from “Yellow” or “Trouble” or perhaps even the fantastic album ending “Everything’s Not Lost” to accompany these images. I also considered “Clocks” (for reasons that will soon become apparent) from their 2003 album “A Rush Of Blood To The Head”, naturally “Paradise” from their 2011 album “Mylo Xyloto” came into my thinking and returning once more to reasons that will soon become apparent, I considered “Church” from their incredible 2019 album “Everyday Life”.

So why have I chosen “The Scientist” I hear you ask? Well there’s the easy answer in that it’s my favourite Coldplay song (from a long, long list) and there’s another reason or two that will forever be connected to Ironbridge and this little piece of heaven on earth and which will remain undisclosed by me. Who needs outright facts when you can ponder the how and the why and possibly even the who is behind my reasoning for loving this song so?

Anyway, here’s my spiritual home for over a quarter of a century, looking radiant in the late winter sunshine of 6th March 2024, and I hope you enjoy this “pictorial stroll” along the banks of the River Severn.

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“Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry
You don’t know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh, let’s go back to the start
Running in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart”

Where just a few days ago “Coracle Man” was in danger of being washed away, the River Severn has dropped dramatically back to an early Spring level.

View from a favourite duck feeding area beside one of the many museums here in Ironbridge with the “Grand Old Lady” and oldest iron bridge in the world just visible in the distance.

Image taken from an ostensible “Viewing Platform” beside the museum and overlooking the entirety of this brief riverside stroll.

The affectionately self-titled “Grand Old Lady” as seen from the other side of the road in this tiny self-titled “Toytown” and World Heritage accredited site.

A bit different but I like it!

The “Grand Old Lady” in all her glory and gleaming in the sun as she always does.

Erected in the year 1779 and the oldest iron bridge in the entire world.

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“Nobody said it was easy
It’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh, take me back to the start

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
But tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start

Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are”

Welcome to Toytown and my spiritual home for over a quarter of a century.

View from the middle of the bridge and across the entirety of this brief stroll along the River Severn.

View from the middle of the bridge, the “Tontine Hotel”, local delicacies such as pork pies and ice cream and the magnificent St Luke’s Church high atop Church Hill.

Oh, and fish and chips!

The sweet bells of St Luke’s Church — Part 1.

The sweet bells of St Luke’s Church — Part 2.

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“Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start”

A different take from St Luke’s Church.

The sweet bells of St Luke’s Church — Part 3.

The sweet bells of St Luke’s Church — Part 4.

A final view of the oldest iron bridge in the world.

The sun shining on the righteous and the commemorative statue to the men and women of Ironbridge who died during the two World Wars.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

Your humble narrator in Ironbridge once again, this time 16th February 2024 (Author’s Collection)

My literary pride and joy to date. Two more books to follow during 2024. Go on, treat yourself! All available via Amazon (Author’s Collection)

"The Scientist" - Coldplay

"The Scientist" - Coldplay (live at Glastonbury 2002)

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Thanks for reading. Here are three of my most recently published articles within the “UK Travel” genre. Over 150 more can be found in that category within my archives here or alternatively:

"Moving Mountains in Ironbridge"

"Descending the Staircase with Radiohead"

"Arctic Monkeys in Audlem?"

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