This is the second single from Coldplay's fifth album Mylo Xyloto. The single was shipped to radio on September 12, 2011.

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep
And dreamed of para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth

Life goes on
It gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear, a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night
She closed her eyes
In the night, the stormy night
Away she'd fly.

And dreamed of para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

She dreamed of para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

La la la La
La la la

So lying underneath those stormy skies.
She said oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.
I know the sun must set to rise.

This could be para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
This could be para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

This could be para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Could be para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

This could be para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Could be para- para- paradise
Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo
Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo

SHE EXPECTED THE WORLD= She thought she could get lots and lots of “things” (things, love, experiences, etc)

IT FLEW AWAY= This IT is “the world” from the previous line.

FROM HER REACH= Away, too far to reach.

IN HER SLEEP= While she was sleeping.

BULLETS= A metaphor for things that hurt you (a bullet is the ammunition you shoot with a gun)

GOES ON= Continues.

TEAR= Drops of liquid that fall from your eyes when you’re very sad or crying.

WATERFALL= (also FALL) A fall of water in a stream or river (see picture)

THE SUN MUST SET TO RISE= The sun must go down before night (set) so it can go up again in the morning (rise).

Regarding this song's meaning, it is easier to explain in the context of the album. Martin told MTV News Mylo Xyloto is a story, explaining: "It's supposed to be about two people who grow up separately in a very big oppressive city, and they each are a bit lost in their lives." He added that the pair meet in a gang and fall in and out of love before getting back together at the end. The singer went on to say: "Paradise is about a girl really, the female half of the entire album, just about being a bit lost in the world and escaping through fantasy."

According to The Daily Mail, the song was inspired by the everyday childhood disappointments experienced by Chris Martin's then eight-year-old daughter