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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Reading again the lyrics of Viva La Vida just after ending a book about Louis XVI (Louis Vincent - and Stephan Zweig with Marie-Antointte) makes everything clear to me: THE SONG IS OBVIOUSLY HIM! And let me tell you why:
Well after reading this part, we are sure about the fact that we're talking about someone who used to rule, a king. But that's too obvious and I didn't mention this part to say this, because what that catched my intention is the "now in the morning, I sleep alone". That's Louis XVI in his last moments, captured in "La conciergerie", where he spends his last days before the trial. He's seperated from his Family, (the Queen and their 3 children). He is alone and he's thinking about what he had become.
This part refers to when Louis XVI had become a king when his grand father Louis XV, died with the smallpox. He was waiting with Marie-Antoinette in a parlor (the heir apparent wasn't alowed to enter the room of the dying king in order not to get affected. He was going to be king) when the courtiers came running to them and screaming all over the castle after hearing that the king passed away in his chamber : "The old king is dead! Long live the king". That's when Louis XVI fell on his knees and said his famous prayer: "Dear God, guide and protect us. We are too young to reign."
For me it refers to when Louis XVI became a king, and started to reign and discovered how bad was the situation of the country, he was trapped. He became the king [of a nation in decadence]. That bringed absolute power (restaured at the time of Louis XIV), but also a lot of responsibilities, and a hope of change from the people of France, who were living in misery for so long and to who God bringed a new young king full of good intent. (Louis XVI ruled at 19 years old, and succeed at his grand father who was well known for debauchery, and also for his negligence of the affairs of the country in his last years. His death was like a relief for the people at that time.)
"My missionaries in a foreign field" Louis XVI was recognized to be a learned king: he was reading a lot, and passioned by the geography and the maritime navigation. He was sending missionaries to discover and to study foreign countries.
"For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never, never an honest word That was when I ruled the world"
"Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn't believe what I'd become"
They say that the history is always written by the winners, and that's true. After the revolution, the king was falsely remembered to be "weak, without personnality, dominated by his woman, stupid, fat, a good for nothing" (and even to be a tyrant and a despot which was hard to imagine, all the people who knew truely the king knew that he could has been anything but a tyrant), this is how the revolutionnaries wanted the king to be remembered, all in order to save and defend the Revolution. But the truth is that Louis XVI loved his people to the much that he didn't want to spill blood even when the times got hard, he believed in a revolution (but a monarchic one, that's why somehow, he led the revolution). That's maybe the fault I reproche him: he could had spilled blood and mainted the order of the country but he didn't, that was the safetest option for him but he didn't want to do it, but badly the times never forgive the powerful nations that wants to get weakned. Blood had to be spilled at that time anyway, so he payed with his own, he was heard to say when about to get guillotined, 'People of France, I am innocent, I forgive those who are responsible for my death. I pray to God that the blood spilled here never falls on France or on you, my unfortunate people ...' When he tried to speak to the crowd and say these words, he was cut short by a roll on the drums.) I've said all of this just to talk about the part when CD say "Once you go, there was never, never an honest word " it's like the king is disappointed to see how misunderstood he was : There's no recognition of all the efforts he tried to do (and yes, unlike all what was commonly thought, he did! He was encouraging the science at his time but most of all, it's thanks to him that the united state got the independence I don't wanna talk about this cause I'm not gonna stop if I start haha), everybody is pointing him, they are lying about him, he feels betrayed by his people.
This part confirms more than ever what I have said: this song is REALLY about Louis XVI. We're talking about "revolutionaries" "head", but most of all (which is for me a great way to end the song!), the "who would ever want to be king?" part which refers the "label" they gave to Louis: "Louis XVI, l'homme qui ne voulait pas être roi" (Louis XVI, the man who didn't want to be a king).
Good lyrics are good lyrics.
i cant read it its too long
Thank you for sharing this! It's definitely the best explanation of one my favourite songs of all time. I love history and I love Coldplay so it's awesome how well the lyrics capture the story of King Louis XVI.
First time ever to comment, but just had to say that your explanation of the possible meanings is remarkably well thought out and expressed! I am a College History Professor, and agree with your postulations. You would have earned an "A" for this effort ;-)<br />
OMG! I have to register an account to say thank you to you! Your analysis is very sensible and inspires me to understand the song in a much clearer way!!
@MalMouk Whoa I never really under stoodthis song before. I was listening to it today over and over, and it occored to me "This sounds like a king who changed for the better of his people and he ended up in a revulution..." I played this song in my orcastra consert and since it has been my absolute favorite!!!! Thank you so much for explaining what this song means!!!!!
@MalMouk This an amazing interpretation. Thanks so much!!! A++
@MalMouk Wow! Your adequate explanation of the literal interpretation of these befamed lyrics has inspired me to think more deeply about the messages and stories being portrayed in songs, books, and movies. I just opened an account on this website. It looks pretty great. I will say that I believe there is still more to be said about the implications of these lyrics. I'm just not sure what those are yet.
@MalMouk <br /> you've worked hard....awesome explaination
@MalMouk Thank you
@MalMouk Wow thank you so much, this is more accurable than the one I read upstairs... I've always wondered who this song was talking about and that "revolutionaries wait, for my head on a silver plate" make me think that was someone really important that I've already known from history.
@MalMouk i definitely agree! Never realized until now
@MalMouk OH MY LANDS thank you for this. I recently watched a documentary about Louis XVI and wondered if this song was about him. He was a misunderstood man, who didn't want to be king, was "forced" into the role because of tradition and expectation, and wound up being compelled to side with the aristocracy, which is what made the folks despise him and want to kill him as a figure head....quite sad really.