Coldplay: Viva La Vida Meaning
Song Released: 2008
Covered By: Taylor Swift
Viva La Vida Lyrics
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...
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Originally said by UpPastMidnight "King Louis XVI and the French revolution...
1.The album cover is a famous piece of art depicting the French revolution. I believe it's title is The French Revolution. Google Images: French Revolution Painting
2. King Louis XVI was beheaded, by a group of people called the Revolutionaries. (..."Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate"...) Google: King Louis XVI Revolutionaries
3. King LouisXVI called out to God to be his judge and guide in the time of his dethroning and ultimate execution. (..."Be me mirror, my sword and shield"... a biblical reference to God's Word) Google: King Louis XVI Last Address or Last Testament
4. The French revolution is known for it's attack on Christianity and it's attempt at the de-christianization of France, but many missionaries left France to take Christianity to the world. (...'"my missionaries in a foreign field"...) Google: French Revolution Dechristianization Google: French Missionaries.
5. Louis XVI claimed in his final address that he was being killed for unjust, untrue reasons, or at best misunderstood reasons. (..."never an honest word, but that was when I ruled the world"...) Google: King Louis XVI Last Address or Last Testament
6. In the song, the steady heavy drum beat that never changes it's tone or rhythm MIGHT be a brilliant final touch... because as Louis XVI was giving his final word, he was eventually drowned out by the steady heavy drum beat of the executioner, and he was beheaded. Google: Louis XVI death drum beat."
Now people keep saying that it couldn't be that because the song is about a king that was alive after his reign. BEFORE Louis XVI was beheaded, he lived in his castle outside of Paris, Versailles, the peasants stormed the castle, and killed the guards, they brought Louis to Paris, and said they would kill him if he tried to leave. He no longer had ANY authority whatsoever, he was replaced by the National Assembly. He had no money (it was stolen at Versailles), and no purpose... So what could the king do..? "Sweep the streets I used to own" -
He's saying "I used to rule the world" and, "sweeping the streets he used to own." I think that means the character had lost his power, but is still managing to live life.
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its about ME and its about YOU. How we were collectivelly brainwashed listening to the lies to put on, while we believed them we felt on top of the world.....now we started to wake up, but that means we are the "rejects", the rebels of society and that means we dont have power...but we dont believe the lies ( for some reason I cant explain, I know Saint peter wont call my name)....no more church or otherwise brainwashing of the masses.
-Never an honest word.-missionaries went around murdering the native people.
Wake up young people! of today...you dont have to swallow the crap crammed down your throats anymore...Coldplay says its OK...with this song!!! :) -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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you should all realize that the entire album, if not most of the songs, are based roughly more over all on the Napoleon war, if any of you had read "war and peace" the most notable account of the Napoleonic war or any other account you would realize this. the reason is because if listened too very closely close too all the songs describe war or some type of complication, spoil, or unpleasent experience. second song "cemeteries of london" describe the marching and fighting and death that happened in london when Napoleon took it over. the songs "Lost!" and "Lost?" could be brought into perspective of all the times Napoleon and his armys got lost, take Egypt for example, his army strayed off course and in large numbers his men died of the plague, raids, and heat exhaustion, wool in desert, not fun, however this is highly doubtful, but still a possibility. "42" speaks possibly of a man going insane from war and slowly deteriorating in his mind seeing all this terrible death happen around him, that "spell" is Napoleons charisma, and finnaly, time is short. "Loves In Japan" clearly has nothing too do with it but rather refrences "soilders" and "right and wrong". "Yes" talks about having hopes that they were going too win the war, which is what ussualy happens before a war happens, when the soilders go in there all pumped like "oh yeah we can do this! whoo!" you know? then they realize its terrible and there is no escape. this was the case for napoleons men. leading me too the next and most popular song "Viva La Vida" this one, this one is clearly about Napoleon being exciled, his men and the country were pissed that he spent all his money on the war effort, so excile, then he talks about "that was when i ruled the world" well yes, napoleon did almost rule the entire free world, if you read the lyrics carefully youll realize that its true talking about being king and ruling the world, that foreign field? i have no idea but that is open too more deeper interpritation. "Violet Hill" speaks of stupid politicians and how those politicians are watching us freeze down below, just read it and youll get it, "carnival of idiots"=most politicians, as nixon said "its not the goverment, its the politicians" which is true. and the last two, well im tired and there confusing. so ill leave those too more interpritations. dont believe me? read "war and peace" and compare the two. i just brought the facts too you.
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I think that this song is about the French Revolution in King Louis XVI's point of view like most people do. But, I think that it is his spirit, not yet called to heaven by St. Peter. "I know St. Peter won't call my name."
Thus, the reason for the line at the beginning of the song, "Sweep the streets I used to own."
He knows he did bad, and knows he was ignorant and foolish, and while reflecting it in his old kingdom, wishes that he did better.
"Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate" is the biggest giveaway. If it was about Jesus, where do the revolutionaries and silver plate come in? He was wanted, and that whole verse sums up the real action in the revolution that involved him: The storming of Bastille is the whole first part with "shattered windows and the sound of drums" and then the whole execution with "...for my head on a silver plate." It could mean nothing else.
I also think that the reason for the title being in Spanish, and not French, is because it sounds better.
It all makes sense to me. -
the song is about a young general who was very close to the current king and gained military power because of it even though nobody respected him but the general thought they did ("never an honest world"). then the king dies, and because he only had his power because of the living king he loses all his power and for the first time in his life he understands that you need to work hard for respect and power and slowly regains himself in the end.
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1. St peter tells you if you can enter heaven 2. Jerusalem bells / Roman Cavalry Chouri - Reffers to Catholics/Christians 3. Silver platter reffers to when St. Johns head was put on a silver platter for the king
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Well I think this has something to do with King Herod,John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
because the lyrics : "Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate just a puppet on a lonely strings oh who would ever wanna be king" Because in somewhere in the bible King Herod's stepdaughter danced for his birthday and after being pleased by the dance
King Herod told his stepdaughter you could have anything you wish and she said Bring me John's head on a silver plate so there and King Herod did it because it would be shameful infront of all the people and the chorus is like Jesus or God singing: "I here Jerusalem Bells are ringing Roman Calvary Choirs are singing" The Choirs are singing to the Lord : "Be my mirror my sword and sheild" And Jesus and God sings: "My missionaries on a foreign field for some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my Name" Because Peter denied the Lord 3 times.... Well thats all I know -
"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"
The "king" in this case is about the powerful west. Now there is the rise of China, India & Brazil....sweep the streets.....means the declining economy in the west
"I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
Missionaries in a foreign field"
They specifically talk about the illegal occupation if Isreal.
there is a huge humanitarian feel to this song which I like. -
All of you have amazing ideas! I agree, the writer most likely didn't take the time to have all the right meanings, but to make the song sound good and have a good ring to it
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It's all about poker.
He used to have pork chops, but then he gambled them in Las Vegas and lost them. Now he's hungry!
Poor Coldplay.. -
This song is basically about somebody who was a success somewhere and felt good about himself and one day someone tricked him in order to take that success from him and now he's feeling like he've lost everything and he've got from the top to the bottom and he feels bad about himself.
I can identify with this song because I was a fighter in the army and when i got injured that's what i felt. -
Basically it means a king is reflecting on his life after losing his kingdom. He describes how people couldn't believe he'd gotten so low after being king. He says how people want him gone, dead. He says he won't go to heaven because of the lies he told. And for being a bad guy. When the phrase "Seas would rise" came up, I think our friend here is saying how top of the world he was. No one could tell him anything was impossible. Thanks for reading!
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I don't think its about any specific war or anything, I just think its about how no matter how good you are on earth, no matter how much power you have, it won't get you into heaven, and this king that died and remembers all the power he had in his first life and how he was cast from heaven, and now he is powerless.
And everything is examples of how he had power, but in the end he was powerless.
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