This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king
One minute, I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never, never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king
One minute, I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never, never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Lyrics submitted by zsub, edited by mike, christianbro9p, otac0n, stevenbol1, Adatasha, KeroseneFire, wolfkirby, maddie2325, Conbear1026
Viva La Vida Lyrics as written by Guy Rupert Berryman Christopher A. J. Martin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I LOVE this song!!!! :D <3 It's truly amazing.
I think this song has something to do with Jesus Christ. Jesus was referred to as the "King of the Jews" and they mention the word "king" several times in this song.
"Long live the king!" is what the soldiers said when they were whipping Jesus Christ (remember when he got crucified, he got beaten with nasty whips, a crown of thorns placed on his head, and he has to carry the cross?).
"I know Saint Peter won't call my name." refers to when Jesus said to Peter that Peter would deny him three times before the cock would crow twice, and this happened, because Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crew twice.
"Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate." refers to when John the Baptist got decapitated. Jerusalem is where the temple Jesus was in and is present in the bible many times.
There are still many more lyrics to classify this song as being about Jesus Christ, but I was only naming the basics. Thanks for reading! xD
@TheMusicNinja I also see a lot of paradigms displayed in this song. You've picked up on a number of religious themes. Songs can have many meanings, even as interpreted by the same person. It doesn't have to be just one way or the other. I can accept the Louis XIV interpretations, but also appreciate the strong religious overtones. <br /> <br /> I also noticed the "roll the dice" reference - perhaps when the Roman Soldiers cast lots for Jesus garments? "Fear in my enemies eyes" could reference the fact that Rome ruled the world and all bowed down to the Emporer, Kings, etc that were established. So, how about King Herod as well? Salome, Herod's daughter asked for John the Baptist's "head on a platter". <br /> <br /> Jerusalem bells ringing are a reference to the Christian call to prayer on Sundays, whether Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran or otherwise. Christians ring bells as opposed to the adhan, which is the Muslim call to prayer. The choirs and the bells could be allusion to the resurrection. <br /> <br /> I also see <br /> "It was a 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 /> which makes me think of the rushing wind of the "Holy Spirit" during Pentecost. <br /> <br /> Jesus became man and dwelt among us - and we know that he felt and experienced human emotion and fought the same internal battles that we fought. He Lived the Life "Viva La Vida". Hence, the question, "Oh who would ever want to be king?" which I interpret to be King of the Jews, or King of the World - after all, look what humans do to Kings, Presidents and others that they elevate to power, only to put them on a string to dance to their tune "like a puppet on a lonely string".<br /> <br /> The closing lines - <br /> <br /> "Never an honest word<br /> But that was when I ruled the world"<br /> <br /> alludes to the fact that although Jesus never lied, he never heard an honest word. Even St Peter, when confronted by the non-believers, could not utter an honest word about who Jesus truly was. <br /> <br /> That's what I hear in the song, with no disrespect to the King Louis XIV references.
@TheMusicNinja I agree with you, I have been sweeping the internet for hours looking for someone else who though similarly to me.
@TheMusicNinja regarding your interpretation of viva la vida....plus....before becoming a man Jesus used to Rule the World, seas would rise when he gave the word. Now he sleeps alone, sweeps the streets he used to own.....(refering to his servanthood as a man.