Coldplay: Viva la Vida Lyrics
Viva la Vida Song Lyrics
Single by Coldplay
from the album: Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
produced by: Coldplay, Brian Eno, Markus Dravs, Rik Simpson
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
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Coldplay's album Viva la Vida featuring Viva la Vida - ASIN: B000RPTQ1C
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2006-2008)
The band began to work on their fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, as early as December 2006, with Brian Eno and Markus Dravs as their producers. In addition, music producer Timbaland was rumoured to be collaborating.
Coldplay took a break from recording and toured Latin America in early 2007, including shows in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. The band revealed that the album seemed to be shaping up with Hispanic influences, after having recorded in churches and other areas in Latin America and Spain during their tour. The group spent the rest of the year recording, mainly with Brian Eno.
Chris Martin described Viva la Vida as a new direction for Coldplay: a change from their past three albums, which they have referred to as a 'trilogy'. Martin has also revealed that this album features much less of his falsetto, and he has allowed his voice's lower register to take precedence.
Some songs, such as "Violet Hill", contain distorted guitar riffs and bluesy undertones. "Violet Hill" was confirmed as the first single, with a radio release date of 29 April 2008. After the first play, it was freely obtainable from Coldplay's website from 12:15 pm (GMT +0) for one week (achieving two million downloads), until it became commercially available to download on 6 May.
"Violet Hill" entered the UK Top 10, US Top 40 (entering the Top 10 in the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart) and charted well in the rest of the world. The title track, "Viva la Vida", was also released exclusively on iTunes; it has since become the band's first #1 on the Hot 100[51] and also their first UK #1, based on download sales alone.
On 16 June, Coldplay began their Viva la Vida Tour with a free concert at Brixton Academy in London. This was followed two days later by a 45-minute performance that was broadcast live from outside BBC Television Centre.
On 15 June 2008, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends topped the UK album chart, despite having been on sale for only three days. In that time, it sold 302,000 copies - making it "one of the fastest-selling records in UK history". By the end of June, it had set a new record for most-downloaded album ever.
Coldplay's Viva la Vida in Other Formats
Coldplay Named Biggest Selling Act of 2008
Coldplay have been declared the biggest-selling act of 2008 at the World Music Awards in Monaco.
The band picked up the prize – along with the Rock Act Of The Year award – after their current album album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' topped charts around the globe.
03/06/11: Nuremberg, Germany
04/06/11: Nuremberg, Germany
09/06/11: Venice, Italy03/06/09: Nuremberg, Germany
11/06/11: Landgraaf, The Netherlands
25/06/11: Pilton, England
28/06/11: Gothenberg, Sweeden
30/06/11: Gdynia, Poland
02/07/11: Wercheter, Belgium
03/07/11: Arras, France
06/07/11: Oeiras, Portugal
07/07/11: Bilbao, Spain
09/07/11: Kinross, Scotland
10/07/11: Punchestown, Ireland
29/07/11: Naeba Ski Resort, Japan
29/07/11: Woodford, Australia - NB: Festival runs from July 29-31, day of Coldplay performance not yet announced.
05/08/11: Chicago, IL, USA - NB: Festival runs from August 5-7, day of Coldplay performance not yet announced.
16/09/11: Austin, TX, USA
01/10/11: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
05/10/11: Cape Town, South Africa
01/10/11: Johannesburg, South Africa
Get tickets here
Plagiarism Allegation
Coldplay were briefly accused of copying portions of "The Songs I Didn't Write" by American alternative band Creaky Boards, for the melody of "Viva la Vida".
Creaky Boards' band member Andrew Hoepfner claimed that Chris Martin had heard the track at one of their shows. Coldplay denied the claims; band spokesman Murray Chambers said "Chris was working in AIR Studios in London" at that time. Creaky Boards later retracted the accusations and now speculate that both songs may have been inspired by the video game The Legend of Zelda.