Viva La Vida by Coldplay, with Lyrics

Re-posted by Nicholas Stix

Is this the most brilliant, wildly ambitious rock song since “Sympathy for the Devil,” which clearly inspired it, sophomoric nonsense, or a little of both? (For instance, shouldn’t that be “Calvary,” rather than “Cavalry”?)

I had only previously heard it once or twice, but never listened closely to the lyrics. Somehow, I’d thought it was about a girl. Now, it’s my momentary musical obsession, replacing Jerry Goldsmith’s score to Patton.
 


 

[Postscript, July 10, 2016, 6:52 p.m.: Try the next one!]


 

Viva La Vida Lyrics
from Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Thanks to Metro Lyrics and Torrenia123 for the October 8, 2011 upload and information.
 

"Viva La Vida" is track #19 on the album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. It was written by Martin, Christopher Anthony John / Berryman, Guy Rupert / Buckland, Jonathan Mark / Champion, William / Fujii, Daisuke.

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 [Calvary?] 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'd gone 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 [Calvary?] 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.

Woahahahah oh, woahahah oh,
Woahahahah oh, woahahah oh,
Woahahahah

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing,
Roman Cavalry [Calvary?] 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.

ooooooh ooh, oooooh ooh, ooooooh ooh, oooooh ooh.
 

Songwriters

Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion and Daisuke Fujii