4. Viva la Vida

​

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.

​

(Refrain)

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’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,

Oh, who would ever want to be king?

 

(Refrain)

 

Oh...

 

(Refrain)