While you won't find this version on a standard album, it has become a staple of the "unreleased" Coldplay community on platforms like Reddit and YouTube.
"When You See Marie (Famous Old Paint Better)" is a track from Coldplay's 2011 album, "Mylo Xyloto." The album marked a significant departure from the band's earlier work, incorporating a more experimental and electronic-infused sound. While "Mylo Xyloto" received mixed reviews from critics, "When You See Marie" stands out as a particularly enigmatic and captivating track.
She opens the photograph. It is of the two of you on a rooftop the year the city felt infinite, arms thrown wide as if the night might lift you like a kite. You look younger there; your hair is unruly, your jacket too big. Marie’s eyes in that picture are the same as now—patient, able to carry an entire set of unspoken instructions. Underneath the photo, tucked into the fold, is a ticket stub with a band's name half-visible: a concert you both attended when the world still promised simple things. The stub is smudged but legible: the letters spell out the start of a song title you still hum at odd hours.
Coldplay has an unreleased/demo track titled "Famous Old Painters" recorded during the Viva la Vida sessions. coldplay when you see marie famous old paint better
If you're thinking of a famous old painting, one that comes to mind involving a Marie is "Marie Antoinette" by Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, but I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to. Another famous painting with a "Marie" is "The Lady with an Ermine" which is believed to be a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, but some might think of "Marie" in other contexts.
These lyrics are a raw and beautiful meditation on identity, legacy, and the creative struggle. The references to "Leonardos," "Basquiat," and "Vincent" explicitly tie the song's title to its meaning. The protagonist isn't a king, but a creator desperately hoping their work will be noticed and endure, asking, "How many times have you written your name? Hoping that lie, will your destiny change?" This version transforms the song into a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever created something and hoped it would matter.
While it looks like a jumbled search string, this phrase highlights how Coldplay blends personal memories with artistic, painterly imagery. Below is a comprehensive look at the hidden history, unreleased gems, and lyrical meaning behind these specific Coldplay elements. The Unreleased Lore of "Famous Old Painters" While you won't find this version on a
"And I wrote a long note, Cried at the ending, I hit the bottom, Caught a ray of lightning, And I asked the wind, 'When you see Marie, tell her I'm still here.' "*
This refers to Liberty Leading the People (La Liberté guidant le peuple) , painted by Eugène Delacroix to commemorate the July Revolution of 1830. It is housed in the Louvre Museum and remains one of the most celebrated works of the Romantic art movement.
events often feature orchestral tributes to these hits in unique venues. Are you thinking of a specific music video or perhaps a fan-made interpretation of one of their songs? Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons She opens the photograph
And when you see Marie, standing in front of that famous old paint… you will finally understand what better sounds like.
"When You See Marie (Demo)" is a song by Coldplay, released in 2007. Dork | Down With Boring Coldplay – Famous Old Painters Lyrics - Genius
The confusion likely stems from the phonetics of the line "," which, in some accents or audio qualities, can be jokingly or mistakenly transcribed as "Marie famous old paint better."
The song you are looking for is , the closing track from their 2011 album Mylo Xyloto .