Viva La Vida (Coldplay)

okay, i really love the song viva la vida by coldplay, but i dont get what the meaning is....???
i used to rule the world??
but now i sleep alone??
what do you guys think it means??

When he had a girl, he felt like he was a king now he's alone and he feels like ****


Personally, I can't stand Coldplay, they're bland and depressing.

oh that makes sense. thank you.
but its too bad you dont like them...
i agree most of thier songs may be depressing, but viva la vida is upbeat and fun. i think.

Originally Posted by vaseline

oh that makes sense. thank you.
but its too bad you dont like them...

They're too mainstream and radiofriendly for my tastes.

They're too bland for my liking and how they're labelled as "rock" I'll never know

i agree most of thier songs may be depressing,

No, they're depressing to me, rock to me is Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Free...

but viva la vida is upbeat and fun. i think.

Chris Martin's voice sounds like a drill going through my skull...

wow, it sounds like tying you up and making you listen to coldplay would be the most effective kind of torture for you! hehe =] just kidding!
that's too bad, i really like them.

Originally Posted by vaseline

wow, it sounds like tying you up and making you listen to coldplay would be the most effective kind of torture for you! hehe =] just kidding!

But it wouldn't be... I don't like the music, it won't make my ears bleed.

that's too bad, i really like them.

Like I keep saying, each to their own, if we all had the same musical or religious or whatever beliefes, the world would be very boring.

I think that you may want to reconsider your interpretation of this song. I'm not a big Coldplay fan - but after reading the lyrics - I think you'll find that the song is about a particular event in history. Likely events could be the French Revolution or, even more likely, it's a biographical song about King Herod. In 66CE, the second temple of Jerusalem fell to the Romans. Herod was the ruler at the time of the destruction of the temple. Many of the lyrics align with one of these famous historial events... This is NOT a song about love lost... it's a song about a kingdom lost.

I'm not much of a Coldplay fan, but I love "Viva La Vida".

Agree with luckygal. The song is about a kingdom loss. As far as I'm concerned, their entire album is based on this idea: revolutions.
According to the lyrics, i.e. the historical events and persons mentioned, I believe this particular song marks the period of the Roman Empire. If you scrutinise the lyrics, you'll see that it all leads to that period. I thought of the French Revolution as well, but I somehow cannot relate Napoleon to the Roman Cavalries nor to Jerusalem...

while i see what luckygal's point of view, i tend to agree more with jester. the song may be based on historical facts, but the tune and regret in his voice make me lean more towards the idea that the song is about a lost love.

Hi everybody, I was following your discussion and I found the lyrics and copy them right here:


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 enemies 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 are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People could not 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 are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

Hear Jerusalem bells are ringings
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh

...and additionally I found an articel abouth the background of this song - you have to scroll down

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_La_Vida_%28song%29

Originally Posted by Sochko

I'm not much of a Coldplay fan, but I love "Viva La Vida".

Agree with luckygal. The song is about a kingdom loss. As far as I'm concerned, their entire album is based on this idea: revolutions.
According to the lyrics, i.e. the historical events and persons mentioned, I believe this particular song marks the period of the Roman Empire. If you scrutinise the lyrics, you'll see that it all leads to that period. I thought of the French Revolution as well, but I somehow cannot relate Napoleon to the Roman Cavalries nor to Jerusalem...

Never account lyrics to one partular thing, keep reading and find other things for them to be.

Originally Posted by Ultimate_Worrier

Never account lyrics to one partular thing, keep reading and find other things for them to be.

Hmm... to tell you the truth, searching and reading was exactly what I did in order to discover what the guys are trying to say with the song, and I didn't find any relation to a love song nor whatever else but the kingdom-loss thing. I suppose we can only make guesses.

You read and saw only what you wanted to see...

Sometimes a metaphor gives you false information but maybe sometimes it works the other way around.

Originally Posted by Ultimate_Worrier

You read and saw only what you wanted to see...

What do you think I wanted to see?

Sometimes a metaphor gives you false information but maybe sometimes it works the other way around.

Maybe you're right...

I don't know what you wanted to see but you obviously didn't find it.

Maybe you set it in your head that my opinion was wrong so that what your mind didn't look for?

Originally Posted by Ultimate_Worrier

I don't know what you wanted to see but you obviously didn't find it.

Obviously?! How can you be sure I'm not right? (regarding the actual meaning of the lyrics)

Maybe you set it in your head that my opinion was wrong so that what your mind didn't look for?

I don't even know what your opinion is. I only gave mine.
But, as I said, I may be wrong.

Erm.... My opinion is "The writer has lost a love and feels like sh*t"


And I know it's not about war because Coldplay don't write about war... They're depressing and miserable and ... A lot like war really isn't it.

Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_la_Vida_(song):

The magazine Q asked Chris Martin about the line "I know Saint Peter won't call my name" sung in "Viva la Vida". Martin replied: "It's about... You're not on the list. I was a naughty boy. It's always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it. And this idea runs throughout most religions. That's why people blow up buildings. Because they think they're going to get lots of virgins. I always feel like saying, just join a band (laughs). That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know about this stuff because I studied it. I was into it all. I know it. It's still mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious." When asked about the song, bass guitarist Guy Berryman said, "It’s a story about a king who’s lost his kingdom, and all the album’s artwork is based on the idea of revolutionaries and guerrillas."

Honestly, I can't seem to get much of his(their) point. I find it silly.

thanks =D
and sochko, i LOVE Dr. House!!!!
he's so hot for an old guy