Coldplay: Viva La Vida Meaning

Song Released: 2008

Covered By: Taylor Swift

Viva La Vida Lyrics

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...

1. Ksloy

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   Aug 11th 2008 !⃝

   To set the record straight once and for all "viva la vida" is a Spanish command meaning "live the life" so it is not vive (he/she/it lives), it's viva- a command (telling you to live).
   
   Anyway...
   
   Maybe the song isn't about any one event in particular (jesus, french or spanish revolution), but anyone who has ever been through a hard time in life but through it all was still able to see the good in life, even though they've been knocked down hard. The feeling of being on top of the world one minute and then at your worst the next. I thought about this when I saw this quote from Chris Martin about his influence from the Frida Kahlo painting: “She went through a lot of shit, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida',” explained Martin of the choice. “I just loved the boldness of it.” Which means that he was moved by how after all that Frida Kahlo had been through in her life (and yes, she did go through a lot) she was still able to move on with her life and make something good out of it.
   
   and this is kind of out there, but the possible references to great people in the song, (Jesus, kings, etc.). It makes me feel like he's trying to say, by comparing the everyday person to these great or powerful people, that no one persons struggle is any less important than the next. That just how I feel though, the song kind of gives me an empowered feeling.
2. anonymous

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   Jul 24th 2008 !⃝

   The song states the person "sleeps alone/sweeps the streets [he] used to own." this would imply that the perspective character has fallen from power, he's still alive. That would contradict the idea it was an executed king. The interpretation of this as being about Jesus... just doesn't fit. I think this is a song about having power, becoming arrogant, alienated, and ultimately suffering some kind of fall.
3. anonymous

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   Jul 24th 2008 !⃝

   I am impressed with your guys’ interpretations! This is all very interesting. Please allow me to point out a couple of things: As somewhat of a songwriter myself, I am aware that often words in songs are used, not so much because of their deep meaning, but rather because they “sound” good and go with the flow of the song. We’ve probably all heard songs where some words that are used just seem to kill the flow because they sound too harsh or so; just not fitting with the sound and flow of the music. However, some things that would strongly suggest that the song refers to Jesus are: Jerusalem (Don‘t know if the French King had much business there); Roman soldiers, Jesus’ commanding the wind and the seas , which is also found in the Old Testament about God in general; and then Peter‘s denial of Jesus. Also, in the Bible, a clear disappointment with people not listening to His Word. I agree that the song could refer to Jesus as well as the French King, which holds the problem that such a mix just doesn't easily go. But again: Song writers are not usually historians and generally put much less thought into the meaning of every single word in a song than all of you guys have done here.
   
   God Bless!
   MCA
4. anonymous

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   Jul 24th 2008 !⃝

   The cover painting is actually by painter Eugène Delacroix. The title splashed in red paint is an homage to a different work, by Mexican symbolist painter Frida Kahlo.
   
   They are drawing inspiration from the painting which depicts "Liberty Leading the People," as a reference to life's more absolute truths.
   
   a sort of modern day rebellion
5. anonymous

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   Jul 22nd 2008 !⃝

   "He/She/It lives the life" would be "Vive la vida", but it could've been meant as a command, and a formal command to "live the life" would be "Viva La Vida"
6. anonymous

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   Jul 19th 2008 !⃝

   "Viva la vida" does not mean "live the life" in Spanish. It's close, but since vivir is an -ir verb, the he/she/formal you/it ending is -e. "Vive la vida" means "live the life."
7. anonymous

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   Jul 12th 2008 !⃝

   Isn't this song about Napoleon? I could swear it sounds just like his story.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Jul 9th 2008 !⃝

   I think that the lyrics refer to the end of any reign, not specifically the French Revolution, and perhaps have more to do with humanity itself than history. It could just be about a single person who has experienced a downfall in their life, and is comparing their own misfortune to a much grander scale. Also, the painting on the album cover is not of the French Revolution. The French Revolution lasted from 1789-1799, and the painting, entitled "Liberty Leading the People" (French: "La Liberté guidant le peuple") was in truth painted in commemoration of the July Revolution. The July Revolution was a singular and separate event that occurred in France in 1830, well after the French Revolution.
9. anonymous

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   Jul 6th 2008 !⃝

   Deliliscious_11, judas betrayed christ so that theory does not work.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
10. anonymous

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    Jul 3rd 2008 !⃝

    Isn't "Viva la Vida" Spanish, not French? if you translate it from French to English on an online translator (google language tools), it stays the same, but if you do it in Spanish it comes out as "living life" or "live the life", which is kind of the general idea of the title. French is actually "Vivre la Vie". Although I think it probably is about the French revolution, they haven't used French in the title. Maybe because "Vivre la Vie" doesn't have quite the same ring to it as "Viva la Vida". Also, "Viva la Vida" was on the original painting of the French Revolution shown on the album cover. Maybe that painter had the same idea that "Viva la Vida" sounds better than "Vivre la Vie".
    
    Anyway, it's a great song and I love it!
11. balkan

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    Jul 1st 2008 !⃝

    For the record....."viva la vida" is SPANISH for "Live the Life"
    
    I do believe this was said by Chris Martin in an interview somewhere....the inspiration for the song title was from a Frida Kahlo painting.
    
    With that said, I think those who are basing the songs meaning off of the French artwork on the cover of the album and the "french" title of the song, are misguided in their assumptions.
12. anonymous

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    Jun 19th 2008 !⃝

    Did anyone consider the obvious possibility of a double meaning. Its actually quite common in songs this powerful.
13. mrtomaino

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    Jun 18th 2008 !⃝

    If you look at the album cover it is a picture of the French Revolutionaries standing with their flag upon a sea of dead aristocrats. Also the song title "Viva la Vida" means in French "Long Live the Emptied." When I first heard this song I thought it was Napoleon singing as he died in St. Helena after being exiled, but a closer listening makes me believe it is King Charles being beheaded during the revolution. I think the theory about Christs death would be valid had the song name not been in French and the album cover not depicted what it did.
14. deliliscious_11

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    Jun 17th 2008 !⃝

    I believe it is about Jesus and his death. Not only because he heard "Jerusalem bells ringing," and "roman calvary singing," but also because he said, "I know saint Peter won't call my name." and if you have read the bible, you would know that Peter betrayed Jesus three times pretending as if he wasn't Jesus's disciple, thus saying, " I know saint Peter won't call my name."
15. anonymous

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    Jun 14th 2008 !⃝

    It is a General Message of any Power(be it great or small)that if not used in the proper manner will be lost by means of Revolution or change from the oppressed party. That party could be a partner in a relationship or the "Greatest empire ever to rule the world-the Roman Empire". For me I'd like to compare it to OUR NATION-ruler of the world, abusing our power, or rather a few individuals at the command control. There is a song by the Flowbots-I can ride my bike with no handlebars, check out those lyrics.

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