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


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

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Viva la Vida song meanings
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    General Comment

    This song piqued my curiosity for some reason. I suppose it started with the sound. I figured I'd look at the words.

    For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world

    I like this part. I don't really get the rest of the song. I don't get this part in the context of this song for that matter, but it makes me think of myself. It makes me think of the callous demeanor that I held before I became the man that I am today.

    Although mostly legally conforming, my actions weren't always ethically or morally sound. Since I've grown up and learned to be truly responsible for my actions and be more forthcoming, I've come to regret a lot of the choices that I've made over the years. Anyways, a flashback of myself a couple of years ago gives me the notion that I felt like I ruled the world.

    I still have personal qualms about authority. In fact, my renewed beliefs are paramount to any other thoughts I've ever held, but now I don't dance around an issue...I make the point. I realize that I might need to take a step back from certain situations, and look at them from a different angle, and I do. In the end, the choices that I make these days are..well..the right ones. Although I have not and will not have my life dictated by any established doctrine, I have begun the process of removing myself from the position to resist and into the right one to help make the changes that I feel should occur.

    irondal2on April 21, 2009   Link

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