French Revolution
his song is using the french revolution as a metaphore he is describing himself either as napoleon or louis XVI more likely napoleon. napoleon having control over north africa like jerusleum. also the old king is dead louis XVI long live the king or emporer napoleon, but it talks of ravolution which napoleon surrendered he wasn't over thrown. with the backround violins sounds alot like 1800's style music and the album cover viva la vida is a pating about the french revolution. also viva la vida viva la france

I'm impressed by this song too... i'm getting a story out of it about the awakening of someone's memory about a God they once used to know. He says that the moment he remembers this God, THAT "was when [he] ruled the world", meaning that was when he was happiest, life was smoothest, and there was a big feeling of peace. With only God was he producing all these miraculous deeds, like "lifting the sea", and "rolling the dice"...so much faith that he could gamble and know that God was in control, not the dice...

And he talks about the "wicked and wild wind"...which is his way of describing all the things God did to try to get him back on his side. I know I sound way too BIBLE-Y and GOD-ly but it's true! And it even says in the bible that "the one who doubts(meaning, the one who doubts god) is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind"... that's from the book of James in the bible, Chapter 1, and I think Chris might be getting his lyrics from this place.

The whole song is just really great... mainstream music isn't usually my thing, but Coldplay is just awesome..

well, what i believe is the meaning behind this song is King herod Sentencing Jesus to crucifiction and then falling from kingship and realizing that everything that people had told him about Jesus was completely false, One minute i held the key the key to Jesus crucifiction wich wuz what the Jews wanted, next the walls were closed on me. meaning that later people had realized that Jesus was actually the son of God and a religion started after his crucifiction, he realized that his castle standed on pillars of salt and sand wich is material and is what jesus warned about at the sermon on the mount. meaning he realized that Jesus was the truth, shattered windows and the sound of drums meaning that Jesus broke the vail on the temple after he was crucified, and he was being looked at as nobody and the people who were believers of christ all hated him for what he done theese days, the roman calvalry choirs were singing be my mirror sword and shied my missionaries in a foreign field meaning to spread the word of God in other lands and hes saying that st peter wont call his name for what he has done in the passed.

Isn't the song title Death and All his friends? Or is that just poor internet searching on my part...

I read the lyrics as the devil's lament to his defeat by Jesus.. He no longer holds the keys to death...

Actually this song is based on the French Revolution.

Also it is NOT napoleon but really King Louis the XVI

i totally love the song. Dont you think that if the song had been sang after michael's death it could be said that it refers to him? He used to rule that world (i am a mike fan) like no other artist. Then his rule kinda went down. And he lost a lot of money too. (Sweep the streets i used to own) and then this ws followed by death. And because he never seemed to have gained peace inside, he feels that st peter won't call his name? Think 'bout it.

kinda but i think it's more like he's really popular and that changed his personality "People couldn't believe what I'd become" or maybe a bully "feel the fear in my enemys eyes"

Yes song about people falling from grace.

I believe the reference to St. Peter (who in religious dialogue holds "the keys to the gates of heaven") denotes that the "singer" deems himself wholly unworthy of a good afterlife. Also, the follow up lyrics "never an honest word..." - essentially re-affirms that point. As a ruler, he chose the path of manipulatation and lies, implying that he never saw himself as an honest head of state.

I watched the Official Music Video by Universal on YouTube and the lyrics said Saint Peter WON'T call my name. Just a correction.

This song does contain religious refrences, but it is NOT about Christ. It is about the french revolution and the overthrow of Napoleon, and the song is based from Napoleon's perspective. This picture is proof.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/VivaLaVida.jpg
The picture for the cover is a famous artwork about the French revolution. You can also see this image during their music.
To be hoenst though, I think they wanted people to form their own meaning from the song.

Interesting interpretation. Makes a lot of sense when you think about the fact that there was supposedly groups of people who continued to follow John the baptist even after Jesus became accepted as the Messiah.

When I first heard this song, I thought it was about Hitler or even Catherine the Great's husband, because the speaker sounds like a despicable person.

'Pillars of salt' probably refers to the story of Sodom and Gomorah. God wanted to save Lot (Abram's nephew) and his family, so he told him to take his two daughters and his wife to flee from the city before it burned. God told them not to look back even once. Lot's wife, however, didn't listen to God and, as they fled, she turned to look back at the burning city. For breaking God's command she was instantly turned into a pillar of salt.

I can't tell you how much sense this makes! Here's my translation from your idea of the song:


I used to rule the world: He ruled the world.
Seas would rise when I gave the word: He performs miracles, and plenty involving water.
Now in the morning I sleep alone: He isn't such a "powerful force" anymore.
Sweep the streets I used to own: He is cleaning the sins of his followers?

I used to roll the dice: He would gamble (not really) but take chances by like performing miracles, and taking followers away from leaders and making them angry, as it says in the next line.
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes: The enemies of Jesus grew angry.
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!": They were now praising Jesus.

One minute I held the key: He had the key to the world practically.
Next the walls were closed on me: He was crucified?
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand: His kingdom was fragile.

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing: He's Jewish.
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing: He had many followers.
Be my mirror, my sword and shield: This represents him asking God for help when being crucified.
My missionaries in a foreign field: This is just a religious line. Maybe like his followers weren't being helpful?

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word: Judas was not honest when he "turned him in".
And that was when I ruled the world: You got this by now.

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: They couldn't believe his miracles and how incredible they were.

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate: They wanted to crucify him.
Just a puppet on a lonely string: He was the living God.
Oh who would ever want to be king?: He found it difficult being king in his position, because he had to be crucified.

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

I agree with the idea that the song is sung from the point of view of Jesus as a metaphor for God/Religion/Church. The song seems to be a lament about the 'good ol days' when the singer was more powerful than he is today. I would expand on that as follows:

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

Meaning: I was the prime mover in the universe. I used to be the explanation for every occurance, such as the tides. Now I am a janitor. I am relagated to cleaning up the messy bits that are left behind from the daily goings on. (Such as the homeless living on the street.)

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!"

Meaning: Rolling the dice probably refers to god "working in mysterious ways" as the mystical explanation for the happenings in the world, as opposed to rational scientific explanations while the remaining lines probably have something to do with religion being used as a rationalization for war and conquest.

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

Meaning: There is a recognition here that the foundation upon which unquestioning belief in Jesus/God/Religion/Church as the literal prime mover of every occurance is weak and subject to erosion.

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing(?)
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing(?)


Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

Meaning: I (Jesus/God/Religion/Church) want you to reflect my existence, fight for me, protect me, and spread belief in me.


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

Meaning: Jesus/God/Religion/Church is confused at how the quest to propegate belief and following caused a lack of honesty (cf truth, criticism, scientific inquest, etc)

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

Meaning: Dark times allowed the perversion of the principles of Jesus/God/Religion/Church such that it had been twisted into something violent and martial (the crusades, jihad, etc.) and people began to question the value of belief.

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

Meaning: Compare writing of communist revolutionaries that religion is the "opiate of the masses" and that it is used as a tool (puppet) to manipulate people.

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

Meaning: Important change from previous stanza: AND->BUT. Previously, Jesus/God/Religion/Church was making an observation that his absolute power had caused a lack of honesty. Here Jesus/God/Religion/Church is remeniscing about it with melancholy: "Yeah, sure. People couldn't express and explore ideas such as gravity to explain things, and so I caused a lack of honest exploration, BUT at least I was in charge! Those were the good ol' days..." There is also some resignation that either St. Peter is not literally existent, or would not allow admittence to heaven because of how Jesus/God/Religion/Church treated 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

Meaning: The importance of the final two lines is apparent from their second repeat.

This is what I see, IMHO.

Kilroy

by passion you meant harmony ;)

Wow, this reply is so long after the original posting, i don't know if anyone will read it, but I agree with "the7keys" interpretation. Being a christian, I would love to believe the song is about a christian perspective, but there are too many things that don't really add up, the main one being that if the author is coming from a christian point of view, it would seem he would think that St Peter would call his name. I will say, I don't know that much about the underlying beliefs of the Catholic faith and if the author could be potentially guilt ridden, thinking he has been so prideful and dishonest that although he now sees the error of his ways he feels there is no redemption for him, but given that there are other "old world" references and influence in this son, it does seem that it would make sense that a rock song is talking about revolutions, especially given our political times world wide that revolutions and world wide changes are often a topic of public discussion. It makes me wonder if the metaphor is for america in that our society has often been compared with the Roman Empire and has often been predicted to have a similar fate ahead. With the illustrations of many great governmental falls, I wonder if the writer is saying it as sort of a "warning" to the World's greatest modern day empire.

Interesting. I love how the poetry and literature of it bring about thought emotion and discussion! Isn't that, after all, what art is supposed to do!

I think you have the best explanation.

I also think that one explanation is that a king's life, given the time, revolved around the church. "Just a puppet on an lonely string" tells me that a king's life is controlled. The time we are speaking of was by the church.

As for St. Peter. I believe it is "I know St. Peter will call my name" just because all are forgiven.

It is interesting to note that in the video at 33:3 in the background you will see Libery Leading the People. The dried paint texture of the video is also a nice touch. The bell (Liberty) was also a nice touch.

1848 comes to mind here, very strongly. Read Droz. Read Marx.

its "Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin :P
i love that song, but Coldplay are on a different level. amazing. :)

Only it's "roman CALVARY choirs are singing"...not catholic

i think the song is about Loius 16th of France ("Listen as the crowd would sing, Now the old king is dead long live the king")... first of all the song has the same name of the album & on the album is the painting by Eugene Delacroix called "Liberty Leading the People" which is an illustration of the of the French Revolution(the flag that "Liberty" is holding is the French flag which would help you make a clear connection). of course at the time France was a super power "I used to rule the world..." (along with many of the other phrases that show the this man was in control), also i think that the "Listen as the crowd would sing, Now the old king is dead long live the king" was talking about when his grandfather died & he became king. At this time he was very young & inexperienced, also The Enlightenment was in full swing & French debt was high from The American Revolution. The Enlightnement spurred people to the belief that they could change their government. Soon people were fed up the King Loius & "Revolutionaries wait for my (his) head on a silver plate." And their wasn't much he could do about it,"Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh, who would ever want to be king?" i can't really go into all of it because the history is sooo indepth but if you look into the history & compare them to the lyrics that helps anyway... that is what i thought of when i heard the song

& Loius the 16th didn't flee from France... that is why he & this family were killed...beheaded

Although I know this is a British group, as an American I read this as a reflection of the past 8 years of George Bush! The President of the US is often thought of as a World Leader thus the reference to "I used to Rule the World". The reference to "Never an Honest Word" well, that seems quite self explanatory.. "Be my mirror, my sword, my shield, my missionaries in a foreign field" all - in my opinion - refer to sending unwilling men and women off to foreign wars to fight the wars of megalomaniacs.
Looking at these lyrics with a political conspiracy eye might make one see other things than mentioned previously on this site.
Anyone agree??

Actually, I think this song's about Gaius Julius Caesar. All lyrics except Jerusalem bells & St. Peter are linked to Caesar.

a theory
-
a bad one.

you really need to brush up on your history. Let me help you about who exactly won WW2. Is the whole world speaking German? Hrmm.... Oh the Allies must have won. If you know who they are. America, Great Britain, Russia where the major allies. I does really matter who won. And while too much salt may taste bad, it is deff not talking about Hitler tasting bad. Have you ever heard, "build your house on the rock", perhaps its building your house on something so unstable? This song has nothing to do with WW2.

How could you not remember who won WW2? If theres not nazis outside your house, I think we can safely say it was the Allies (US, GB, SU). If Hitler won, half the world's population would be dead by now

pillar of salt=Hilter? Don't think so, bud.

Biblical reference to Lot's wife being turned into one for turning back and looking at Sodom and Gomorrah. =/

Read this song from the standpoint of the "King of Jerusalem".
After the first crusade (having been sent with swords as 'missionaries' to a foreign field) the Holy Land was lost back to the Moslems. Now one of the conquering knights has been captured and held for ransom. With no ransom paid he would have been sold into slavery. Within the span of a few weeks he would have gone from living like a king to being a slave. Only now he realizes that he and the others were lied to. It wasn't God that sent them to this land to reach the unsaved, it was Mammon (the god of greed) masquerading behind the church. That's why he doesn't think St. Peter will call his name. He's a murderer and thief.
Either that or it's the thoughts of De'Molay as he burned at the stake for his part in those crusades and the Templars.

fucking terrible theory

You Can't Just Take Things Out Of Context.
The Song Is Not At All Saying That The One Singing IS The Pillar Of Salt. It's Saying "And I Discovered That My Castles Stand Upon Pillars Of Salt And Pillars Of Sand."
So The Castles Are Built On Pillars Of Sand, Which Means They Weren't Steady And Could Fall Into Ruin Easily.
And It Does Matter Who Won The War. It Always Matters. If It Didn't, What Would Be The Point Of Having War In The First Place? Some Wars Are Dumb, But WW2 Wasn't. It Makes All The Difference That Hitler's Germany Isn't In Power Today. You Obviously Don't Know Your History If You Think It Doesn't Matter.

Morgan Freeman 9:
that was the lamest theory ever

you're word connections are stupid. hitler=salt and bells? key= atomic bomb?
and come on you gitta know who won the ww2, everybody must know such a thing

and your theory about japan and atomics bomb is insanely dumb

the most probable answer is that this is about louis XVI