"Fix You" is a sobering meditation on grief, written to comfort someone experiencing the death of a loved one. The song was inspired by Chris Martin's desire to help his then-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, through her grief after her father passed away. He even used a keyboard her father had given her to find the initial sounds for the track. The song builds around an organ, piano, and acoustic guitar, developing into a spirited second half with group vocals, drums, and strings, carrying a hopeful message. At its heart, it plays like a supportive embrace in a time of sorrow.