DEAR
"I Love This Song!":
You know how you'll hear a song, and you'll say, "What the heck was that supposed to mean?" Like Coldplay's Viva la Vida (one of my personal favorites), for instance. I mean, yeah, it sounds awesome!!! (fantastic string sections; love the violin!) but what's it actually about- and what does it really mean?
"I Love This Song!":
You know how you'll hear a song, and you'll say, "What the heck was that supposed to mean?" Like Coldplay's Viva la Vida (one of my personal favorites), for instance. I mean, yeah, it sounds awesome!!! (fantastic string sections; love the violin!) but what's it actually about- and what does it really mean?
If you Google the meaning of the song, a lot
of mixed ideas pop up. One explanation that I like a lot suggests that the song
is about revolution. There are clues that could support this idea: on the cover
of the album- named after this song- is a print of Delacroix's rendition of the
1830 French revolution, Liberty Leading
the People, and the lyrics mention that the
old king is dead/ long live the king. Many of the other songs on the CD
also allude to revolution-istic (I made up that word, in case you're
wondering!) ideas.
Then there are ridiculous ideas, some going so far as to say that the song is about devil idolatry and other evil things. Many say the song is about Jesus, but the facts aren't straight if they are supposed to refer to him. Especially the lyrics that speak of how a wicked and wild wind/ blew down the doors to let me in. Nothing wicked would ever "let him in"- anything evil would want to keep him out! It makes more sense if this idea referred to Satan, when he was beautiful and in good standing, and then he fell.
My description of the song is a bit more vague and, I think, one of the better explanations. I think the song is about anyone who was rich or famous- perhaps even the band itself. They were in great 'power' for a while, but then fell. (The band lost its popularity for a while until this song came out.) One reason to support this idea of someone rich/famous is the mention of having power and even gambling with both money and life: I used to roll the dice/ see the fear in my enemies' eyes. "Then why all the Biblical references?" you might ask. The band has admitted to not being very religiously correct with Viva la Vida; the lead singer said they just "wanted to write a fun song" that everyone would like. Here are the full lyrics, in case you want to read them through:
Viva la Vida
I used to rule the
world
For some reason I can't explain
Seas would rise when I gave the word Once you'd gone
there was never
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Never an honest word
Sweep the streets I used to own But that was
when I ruled the world
I used to roll the dice
It was a wicked and wild wind
Feel the fear in my enemies' eyes Blew
down the doors to let me in
Listen as the crowd would sing
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
Now the old king is dead; long live the king People couldn't
believe what I'd become
One minute I held the key Revolutionaries wait
Next the walls were closed
on me
For my head on a silver plate
And I discovered that my castles stand Just a
puppet on a lonely string
Upon pillars of salt and
pillars of sand Oh, who
would ever want to be king
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
....For some reason I can't explain
Roman cavalry choirs
are singing I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Be my mirror, my sword, my shield
Never an honest word
My missionaries in a foreign field
But
that was when I ruled the world
With The Haughty Snort Of A Lyricist,
Joélle.