Dear good people, "42" could be a "heads-up" to one of Coldplay's alleged greatest influences-U2. U2 recorded a song titled "40" for their third studio album, titled "War". "40" alluded to the psalms and contained pieces of it. The song was of longing and desperation, and simply not measuring up. By the way, Moses and those who went on the Exodus spent 40 years in the wilderness. Refer to the Book of Exodus in the Bible, if your heart so desires.