The balcony scene in Act II is the arguably the true beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. The two confess their love for one another and discuss how it is already clear they cannot live without each other. For these reasons Coldplay’s “Yellow” would be the perfect song to play as Juliet steps onto the terrace. As Romeo stays hidden in the bushes, he proclaims his love by comparing Juliet to different astronomical features. “Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon” (2.2.3-4) and later, “the brightness of her cheek would shame those stars”(2.2.19-20). Similarly in the song, the singer remarks about how one should always “look at the stars” and “how they shine for you”. He then continues on to say “you were all yellow” which metaphorically represents how one is like a star. Later on in the balcony scene, the two star-crossed lovers discuss their family rivalry and how they need to “deny thy father and refuse thy name” (2.2.37) and if they do not, “they will murder [Romeo]” (2.2.75). Likewise, in “Yellow”, Chris Martin says, “for you I bleed myself dry” in which he talking about how he could love someone so much that he would kill himself if he were to be without her. This line also alludes to Romeo and Juliet’s actions later on in the play where they both commit suicide when the other appears to be dead. Therefore, this great song by Coldplay captures Romeo and Juliet’s love, the motif of cosmic objects, as well as the extremity of their relationship.
Lyrics:
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called 'Yellow'
So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to've done
And it was all yellow
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know? You know I love you so
You know I love you so
I swam across
I jumped across for you
Oh what a thing to do
'Cause you were all yellow
I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh what a thing to do
And it was all yellow
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know? For you I bleed myself dry
For you I bleed myself dry
It's true
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things you do