Viva la Vida

French Revolution<br /> his song is using the french revolution as a metaphore he is describing himself either as napoleon or louis XVI more likely napoleon. napoleon having control over north africa like jerusleum. also the old king is dead louis XVI long live the king or emporer napoleon, but it talks of ravolution which napoleon surrendered he wasn't over thrown. with the backround violins sounds alot like 1800's style music and the album cover viva la vida is a pating about the french revolution. also viva la vida viva la france

I'm impressed by this song too... i'm getting a story out of it about the awakening of someone's memory about a God they once used to know. He says that the moment he remembers this God, THAT "was when [he] ruled the world", meaning that was when he was happiest, life was smoothest, and there was a big feeling of peace. With only God was he producing all these miraculous deeds, like "lifting the sea", and "rolling the dice"...so much faith that he could gamble and know that God was in control, not the dice...<br /> <br /> And he talks about the "wicked and wild wind"...which is his way of describing all the things God did to try to get him back on his side. I know I sound way too BIBLE-Y and GOD-ly but it's true! And it even says in the bible that "the one who doubts(meaning, the one who doubts god) is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind"... that's from the book of James in the bible, Chapter 1, and I think Chris might be getting his lyrics from this place.<br /> <br /> The whole song is just really great... mainstream music isn't usually my thing, but Coldplay is just awesome..

well, what i believe is the meaning behind this song is King herod Sentencing Jesus to crucifiction and then falling from kingship and realizing that everything that people had told him about Jesus was completely false, One minute i held the key the key to Jesus crucifiction wich wuz what the Jews wanted, next the walls were closed on me. meaning that later people had realized that Jesus was actually the son of God and a religion started after his crucifiction, he realized that his castle standed on pillars of salt and sand wich is material and is what jesus warned about at the sermon on the mount. meaning he realized that Jesus was the truth, shattered windows and the sound of drums meaning that Jesus broke the vail on the temple after he was crucified, and he was being looked at as nobody and the people who were believers of christ all hated him for what he done theese days, the roman calvalry choirs were singing be my mirror sword and shied my missionaries in a foreign field meaning to spread the word of God in other lands and hes saying that st peter wont call his name for what he has done in the passed.

Isn't the song title Death and All his friends? Or is that just poor internet searching on my part...<br /> <br /> I read the lyrics as the devil's lament to his defeat by Jesus.. He no longer holds the keys to death...

Actually this song is based on the French Revolution.

Also it is NOT napoleon but really King Louis the XVI

i totally love the song. Dont you think that if the song had been sang after michael's death it could be said that it refers to him? He used to rule that world (i am a mike fan) like no other artist. Then his rule kinda went down. And he lost a lot of money too. (Sweep the streets i used to own) and then this ws followed by death. And because he never seemed to have gained peace inside, he feels that st peter won't call his name? Think 'bout it.

kinda but i think it's more like he's really popular and that changed his personality "People couldn't believe what I'd become" or maybe a bully "feel the fear in my enemys eyes"

wait, everybody knows this song is about napoleon right? just making sure...

this interpretation is cool, go on:<br /> orgud.com/2010/04/viva-la-vida-lyrics-songtext-coldplay/<br /> <br /> an press the translate button on right side.<br />

I think that the song is about an individual's rise to power, his revelation that his power base is unstable, his power having been usurped from him, dealing with rebellions, and the impending fall from power that awaits the protagonist.<br /> <br /> "I used to roll the dice<br /> Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes<br /> Listen as the crowd would sing<br /> 'Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!'"<br /> <br /> The speaker was a rising star in the world, he defeated someone great and powerful before him. <br /> <br /> "One minute I held the key<br /> Next the walls were closed on me<br /> And I discovered that my castles stand<br /> Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand"<br /> <br /> After the protagonist has taken the crown, he now sees that he's trapped in his current situation. His castles stand on pillars of salt and sand, meaning that the very foundation that he established his power on is unstable.<br /> <br /> "For some reason I can't explain<br /> Once you go there was never<br /> Never an honest word<br /> And that was when I ruled the world<br /> <br /> It was the wicked and wild wind<br /> Blew down the doors to let me in<br /> Shattered windows and the sound of drums<br /> People couldn't believe what I'd become"<br /> <br /> The beginning of the King's demise began when the title changed his personality. The narrator of the song's story became dishonest, he used his power to get what he wanted from other people, "It was the wicked and wild wind. Blew down the doors to let me in." The king is no longer the man that people remembered him as he's become corrupted from power.<br /> <br /> "Revolutionaries wait<br /> For my head on a silver plate<br /> Just a puppet on a lonely string<br /> Oh, who would ever want to be king?<br /> <br /> I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing<br /> Roman Cavalry choirs are singing<br /> Be my mirror, my sword and shield<br /> My missionaries in a foreign field"<br /> <br /> Now the current king is dealing with rebellions while his power is being usurped from him by the people surrounding him. The song doesn't say exactly who is usurping power - it could be his military that he depends on to protect him from the rebels, his bureaucrats, the men of his court, etc. But, the fact is that the narrator says that he's no just a "puppet on a lonely string. Oh, who would ever want to be king?" <br /> <br /> "For some reason I can't explain<br /> I know Saint Peter won't call my name<br /> Never an honest word<br /> But that was when I ruled the world"<br /> <br /> As the speaker's story is coming to an end, he thinks to himself that Saint Peter won't call his name, mentioning that he "Never [said] an honest word". Because, power has corrupted him and made him an evil person, the narrator knows that he's going to burn in Hell for what he's done while he sat on his throne.<br /> <br /> <br /> The song doesn't really relate to any one person in particular. One could guess Napolean since he had such a big fall, but his defeat was from foreign powers and not by rebellions. A Roman Emperor might be more appropriate, since there's mention of "Jerusalem bells" and a "Roman Calvary choir", and since Roman emperors in history usually did come to power through bloodshed. But, even then there's really no mention on WHO the speaker of the song is.<br /> <br /> One could speculate that the protagonist's predicament is an analogy for Chris Martin's anxieties now that he's famous. Although, fame and power aren't quite the same thing, they are similar in that they're the kind of things that many people want but don't consider that also come with a heavy price.

@michinobu: I'll go with yours. Thanks!

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing? It sounds to me like Roman Catholic choirs are singing. Roman Catholic Choirs seems to make more sense. I think the official name for the Catholic Church is still Roman Catholic.<br />

I see the basic elements of a middle aged man whose life as gone to hell. In other words?<br /> <br /> Like all of us. Those predator wives of ours who only saw us as a meal ticket and someone to sue for alimony and child support after the honeymoon ends.