Viva La Vida
Coldplay
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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 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't explain Once you go there was never, never a 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 are ringing Roman Calvary choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Calvary choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter won't call my name Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world
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Written by: Christopher A. J. Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Record Success"Viva La Vida" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100, being Coldplay's first and only song to date to reach the top of either chart.
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Song CompositionThe track incorporates influences from orchestral and world music, with Chris Martin’s voice hovering over grand strings, pounding percussion, and a sing-along church choir.
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InspirationThe song was inspired by a painting from Mexican visual artist Frida Kahlo titled “Viva La Vida - Watermelons.” The painting and the title depicted Kahlo's spiritual survival after numerous heartbreaks and suffering.
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Awards"Viva La Vida" won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, marking a significant achievement for Coldplay.
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Unusual LaunchColdplay chose to unveil this song at an unlikely location – the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, this was the first live performance of the song.
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Lyric InterpretationThe song's lyrics are a tale of a king's fall from grace, which are told by the king himself. There are countless theories about who this king might be, ranging from King Louis XVI to King Solomon, but the band has never confirmed any.
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ProductionThe song was produced by legendary music producer Brian Eno, known for his work with U2 and David Bowie. His influence helped Coldplay to bring out a more experimental sound in the album.
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LawsuitColdplay faced a plagiarism lawsuit over Viva La Vida from guitarist Joe Satriani, who claimed that the song copied parts of his track 'If I Could Fly'. However, the case was dismissed in 2009.
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Applications in Pop Culture"Viva La Vida" was used in promotional materials for the CBS drama "Viva Laughlin," which was based on the British show "Blackpool" that featured its characters frequently bursting into song.
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Album SuccessThe song is the title track of their fourth studio album, 'Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends', which sold over 10 million copies worldwide. This made it one of the top-selling albums of the 21st century.
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Citation
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