Music Friday: Coldplay Sings About Digging for Gold in 2009’s ‘The Goldrush,’ a Song That Nearly Became an Exclusive Concert Giveaway

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you super songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we feature British alternative rock band Coldplay performing “The Goldrush,” a nifty little song that is teeming with references to gold mining, precious metals and a ring.

Reminiscent of the famously spontaneous Beatles studio sessions, “The Goldrush” features Coldplay drummer Will Champion taking over lead vocals as his band mates can be heard chatting in the background before joining in the song. Champion sings, “I went digging for gold, down to the valley, over by the mountain, where the prospector had been told."

“The Goldrush” had been written for Coldplay’s fourth studio album, but didn’t make the cut because is was so unlike the other songs in the album.

Then the band’s frontman, Chris Martin, floated the idea that “The Goldrush” could be offered exclusively to concert ticket holders. In this way, their most devoted fans would be the only ones to know the song. That idea never came to fruition.

Instead, “The Goldrush” ended up on the B-side of the Grammy-nominated “Life in Technicolor ii” single, which was released in 2009.

Formed by Martin in 1996 under the name Pectoralz, the band would change its name to Coldplay in 1998. Since its inception, the band has sold more than 60 million records worldwide and has earned numerous awards, including seven Grammy Awards.

We welcome you to sing along as you listen to the fun studio session of Coldplay performing “The Goldrush.” Click on the YouTube box as the end of this post.

“The Goldrush”
Written and performed by Coldplay.

I went digging for gold
I went down to the valley
Over by the mountain
Where the prospector had been told
I'm marching through the cold
We're marching through the cold

I went digging for gold
I went down with my brother
A bucket and a shovel
And a book about the color of coal
I'm marching through the cold
We're marching through the cold

There's a tiny little crackle on the telephone line
Saying what use is the metal if the metal don't shine?
She said bring me back a ring 'cause I really want one
Now I been digging so long that I never see the sun

I went digging for gold
I went down to the valley
Over by the mountain
Where the prospector had been told
I'm marching through the cold
We're marching through the cold

There's a tiny little crackle on the telephone line
Saying what use is the metal if the metal don't shine?
She said bring me back a ring 'cause I really want one
Now I been digging so long that I never see the sun
Now I been digging so long that I never see the sun
Now I been digging so long that I never see the sun

Sterling Silver Finger Splints Provide Fashionable Therapy for Arthritis Sufferers

Arthritis sufferers now have a great alternative to the cumbersome, unattractive — and often embarrassing — finger splints of yesteryear. They’re called SIRIS splints and they’re designed in sterling silver or karat gold to look like fine jewelry. One TV commentator appropriately called them “bling with a purpose.”

People struggling with advanced arthritis are often prescribed splint therapy to hold their painful joints in place, but the bottom line is that splints can’t provide pain relief if they are not worn.

Common splints don’t fit under gloves, can’t slide through sleeves and must be removed when washing one’s hands. They may also be the source of embarrassment in social situations when the bulky device draws attention to one’s “problem.”

SIRIS splints elegantly counter all of these objections. The stylish marriage of form and function, the sleek, lightweight, easily adjusted precious-metal splints were invented by occupational therapist Cynthia Garris when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was facing long-term splint therapy.

Unwilling to settle for the options being prescribed at the time, she set out to design a new series of splints that patients would be proud to wear.

The result was a beautiful line of sterling silver ring splints that therapists may order to provide relief for a wide variety of hand ailments, such as hyperextension, lateral instability, flexion, MCP deviations, thumb problems and triggering.

One blogger, who suffers from a rare disease that makes her joints unstable, called the SIRIS rings “nothing short of a miracle.”

“When you put up with something like this your whole life, you just get used to it,” she wrote. “Now, I’m getting used to not having pain for the first time, and it’s nothing short of a miracle.”

Another customer wrote: “It is difficult to accept the diagnosis of a life-long debilitating disease, but I have found that explaining the purpose of my ‘beautiful rings’ has helped me with the healing process.”

The devices are generally priced from $85 to $395, but may be custom-ordered in 14-karat gold and embellished with a variety of precious gemstones. The company’s web site is at www.silverringsplint.com.

52-Carat Flawless Diamond From India's Legendary Golconda Mines Headlines Christie’s December Auction

A 52.58-carat D-flawless stunner sourced from the legendary Golconda diamond mines in south central India is the headliner of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction set for December 10 in New York City.

Christie’s described the octagonal-cut diamond as having “superior luminance, luster and distinct brilliance.” It is expected to fetch between $9.5 million to $12.5 million.

Back in April, the extraordinary “Princie” — also sourced from the Golconda mine — rocked the auction world when it sold for $39.3 million at Christie’s New York. The 34.65-carat cushion-cut fancy intense pink diamond was the most valuable diamond ever sold by this auction house.

For centuries, India's most prized diamonds have been known as the "diamonds of Golconda," and some of the most famous stones unearthed at the ancient Golconda mines have included the 45.52-carat deep blue Hope Diamond and the 105.60-carat Koh-i-Noor.

Other notable items on the block at Christie’s this December include the following:

• A platinum necklace featuring a 22.12-carat D color, VVS1, pear-shaped diamond. The necklace by Leviev is accented with alternating marquise-cut and oval-cut diamonds weighing a total of 38.76 carats. It has a pre-sale high estimate of $3.5 million.

• An 18-karat white gold necklace highlighted by a 91.38-carat cushion-cut Burmese sapphire and unique horizontally set baguette-cut diamonds. It is expected to fetch up to $1.2 million.

• Unusual platinum ear pendants boast impressive 18.98-carat and 16.75-carat Colombian emeralds, pearls and old-mine cushion-cut diamonds. The pair has a pre-sale high estimate of $850,000.

• Colorful multi-gemstone “Tutti Frutti” bracelet was made by Cartier circa 1930. The platinum Art Deco piece features oval-shaped jade cabochons, carved ruby and sapphire leaves, black onyx vine detail and old European-cut diamonds. It is expected to sell for up to $500,000.

Overall, Christie’s December 10 event, which concludes the winter auction season, will include 500 lots and is expected to garner more than $45 million in total sales.