Interpretation
The lyrics of 'In My Place' by
Coldplay describe feelings of loss, regret, and longing. In the first verse 'In my place, in my place, Were lines that I couldn't change, I was lost, oh yeah.', the singer talks about a situation or a place ('my place') where he felt lost and where he couldn't change things ('the lines'), even though he wanted to. It could be about mistakes or decisions from the past that he regrets.
In the chorus 'Yeah, how long must you wait for him? Yeah, how long must you pay for him? Yeah, how long must you wait for him? Oh for him...', he addresses another person and asks how long she must wait for 'him' or pay for 'him'. 'Him' could be a third person in a romantic relationship or a metaphor for something that the singer or the person he's addressing wants to achieve but can't.
In the second verse 'I was scared, I was scared, Tired and underprepared, But I wait for you. If you go, if you go, Leave me down here on my own I wait for you.', the singer expresses his fear and exhaustion and says that he will wait for 'you' even if 'you' leave him alone. This shows his deep connection and longing.
The bridge 'Singing please, please, please, Come on and sing to me, to me, me Come on and sing it out, out, out. Come on and sing it now, now, now. Come on and sing it' is an appeal to the other person to tell him something or 'sing' to him. It could be a call for her to express her feelings or help him with his difficulties.
In the conclusion 'In my place, in my place, Were lines that I couldn't change, And I was lost, oh yeah.', the singer returns to his starting point and emphasizes once again his feeling of loss and the unchangeability of the 'lines', which underscores the central theme of the song.