In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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Given that this album seems to revolve around the theme of celebrating life (Viva la Vida) and revolutions (the cover art depicts the French Revolution by Delacroix), I think this song embodies the nature of revolutions. The lyrics to this song seem to refer to revolutions in history thus far, about kings, queens, emperors, and other rulers who fall from high places after revolutions from below. The French Revolution, the Chinese Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the British Civil Wars in the 17th century all come to mind when I hear these lyrics. Each revolution overthrew a powerful central government, with a powerful head of state in a violent and bloody fashion (think "heads on a silver plate"). These lyrics are telling their stories from the point of view of the fallen leader, in a very poetic way, but the message is essentially "Oh, who would ever want to be king?" Because revolutions have occurred over and over in history, and they will continue to occur, but such is the story of life and of humanity.
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Wow, this reply is so long after the original posting, i don't know if anyone will read it, but I agree with "the7keys" interpretation. Being a christian, I would love to believe the song is about a christian perspective, but there are too many things that don't really add up, the main one being that if the author is coming from a christian point of view, it would seem he would think that St Peter would call his name. I will say, I don't know that much about the underlying beliefs of the Catholic faith and if the author could be potentially guilt ridden, thinking he has been so prideful and dishonest that although he now sees the error of his ways he feels there is no redemption for him, but given that there are other "old world" references and influence in this son, it does seem that it would make sense that a rock song is talking about revolutions, especially given our political times world wide that revolutions and world wide changes are often a topic of public discussion. It makes me wonder if the metaphor is for america in that our society has often been compared with the Roman Empire and has often been predicted to have a similar fate ahead. With the illustrations of many great governmental falls, I wonder if the writer is saying it as sort of a "warning" to the World's greatest modern day empire.<br /> <br /> Interesting. I love how the poetry and literature of it bring about thought emotion and discussion! Isn't that, after all, what art is supposed to do!
I think you have the best explanation.<br /> <br /> I also think that one explanation is that a king's life, given the time, revolved around the church. "Just a puppet on an lonely string" tells me that a king's life is controlled. The time we are speaking of was by the church.<br /> <br /> As for St. Peter. I believe it is "I know St. Peter will call my name" just because all are forgiven.
It is interesting to note that in the video at 33:3 in the background you will see Libery Leading the People. The dried paint texture of the video is also a nice touch. The bell (Liberty) was also a nice touch.
1848 comes to mind here, very strongly. Read Droz. Read Marx.
Well actually the cover art has to do with the July Revolution, which is -a- French Revoltion, but not the French Revolution.
I was going to ask why not the American Revolution, but then I realised that didn't really overthrow the king as is appropriate for this metaphor, We just seperated and formed aro own nation after winning the war.
@the7keys you are wrong, this song is about the feeling of a big cock gliding to the back of your throat.