Viva La Vida
Jessica Crosbie Lyrics
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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
Listened as the crowd would sing
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 s 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?
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry s are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oh oh oh oh ohh oh Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry s are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
The lyrics of Viva la Vida by Jessica Crosbie are powerful and thought-provoking, as they describe a once-powerful leader who has lost everything and is now sleeping alone and sweeping the streets that he used to rule. The song explores the fleeting nature of power and the fragility of human existence, as the singer reflects on his former life as the "king of the world" and realizes that his castles were built on "pillars of salt and pillars of sand."
The song's chorus, which repeats the refrain "I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing, Roman cavalry s are singing, Be my mirror, my sword and shield, My missionaries in a foreign field," speaks to the singer's desire for someone or something to guide and protect him in his new, unfamiliar circumstances. The second verse adds a layer of political intrigue to the song, as revolutionaries wait for the singer's downfall, and he realizes that he was nothing more than a puppet on a string.
Overall, Viva la Vida is a poignant and lyrical reflection on the nature of power and the ephemeral quality of human life.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to rule the world
Once I had complete control and power over everything
Seas would rise when I gave the word
My authority was so powerful that natural forces obeyed my commands
Now in the morning I sleep alone
After losing my power, I am left with loneliness
Sweep the streets I used to own
Once I ruled the streets, but now I must work just like anyone else to make ends meet
I used to roll the dice
I took big risks without much care or thought
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
I enjoyed the power of scaring others with my actions and decisions
Listened as the crowd would sing
My manipulative leadership had the power to garner an unwarranted amount of support from the public
Now the old king is dead long live the king
I, the former ruler, have been replaced by a new one, and life moves on
One minute I held the key
For a fleeting moment, I had everything I had ever wanted
Next the walls were closed on me
I reached my limit of control and found myself trapped
And I discovered that my castles stand
Everything I had built was not as strong as I had thought
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
Everything I built was actually quite weak and temporary
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Various things happen around me that remind me of a past time in power
Roman cavalry s are singing
Military power and strength still exist even without my command
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
I need tools to help me survive in this world and cope with my loss of power
My missionaries in a foreign field
I need others to help me find my way in this unfamiliar life that I now lead
For some reason I can't explain
There is no logical explanation for why I lost my power and influence
Once you'd gone there was never
After my downfall, honesty was no longer present in my world
Never an honest word
No one speaks truthfully to me anymore
And that was when I ruled the world
My power has been ended and I am forced to live with this loss
It was a wicked and wild wind
The event that destroyed my world was sudden and unexpected
Blew down the doors to let me in
The event allowed me to rise to my previous position of power
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
The effects of the time in power were destructive and volatile
People couldn't believe what I'd become
My actions and decisions were shocking and unexpected for those who knew me before my time in power
Revolutionaries wait
Those who I once oppressed are now seeking their own power
For my head on a silver plate
These revolutionaries wish to seize me and bring my time in power to an end
Just a puppet on a lonely string
I am left to my own devices with no one to support me, now that I have lost my power
Oh who would ever want to be king?
Now faced with the harsh reality of losing everything, I reflect and ask myself if it was worth it
I know St Peter won't call my name
I know I will not be welcomed into heaven for my actions in life
Oh oh oh oh ohh oh Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
The past is still ringing in my ears and I can't escape it, no matter how much time has passed
Roman cavalry s are singing
The military power that drove me is still ever present
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
The tools that I need to survive have not changed
My missionaries in a foreign field
I still need help to navigate this new life without power
For some reason I can't explain
Despite everything, there is still no explanation for how I could have lost so much
I know St Peter won't call my name
I know that there will be no one to save me from what I have done
Never an honest word
Honesty eludes me still, even after all this time
But that was when I ruled the world
Everything changed once I lost that which gave me power and control
Contributed by Adalyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.