![Cover art for Viva La Vida [Acoustic] lyrics by Dirty Heads](https://songmeanings.com/images/art-default.webp)
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Viva La Vida [Acoustic] Lyrics
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 ringing
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
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was the 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
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
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
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
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
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
For me, I always think about when I used to play football for my high school team and how much i loved it and now I can never have those moments back.
"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 think about how football players were highly looked up to for what they did and now that it's over, you're done and now you may work as a janitor in the school you once 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!'"
You take a chance on the play you're about to run and as you look across the line, you can see the fear in the eyes of the other players. And then the crowd would cheer as whoever scores a touchdown.
"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"
Again, once you were a great player for your team but then you were forced to move on. The things you thought you could do forever were really just temporary.
You get the idea. I know this isn't what these guys probably intended when they covered this song but that's the beauty of music, you can apply it to your life and it still be relevant.