Coldplay is an English rock band formed in 1996. One of their most popular songs is “Viva La Vida”, which includes the lyrics “When I ruled the world”. This song was released in 2008 and was a massive hit, reaching the top of the charts in many countries around the world. In this article, we will take a closer look at the lyrics of “When I ruled the world” and what they mean.
Verse 1
The song starts with the following 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
These lyrics talk about the narrator’s experience of ruling the world, where everything was under their control. They could make the seas rise just by giving the word. However, in the present, the narrator is no longer in power and has to sweep the streets they used to own. This shows a stark contrast between the past and the present and highlights the narrator’s loss of power.
Chorus
The chorus of the song goes like this:
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
Here, the narrator talks about their downfall. They held the key to everything, but in the next minute, the walls were closed on them, indicating a sudden and unexpected loss of power. The last two lines of the chorus are particularly significant, as they suggest that the narrator’s castles were built on unstable foundations of salt and sand, which ultimately led to their downfall.
Verse 2
The second verse of the song is as follows:
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
Here, the narrator talks about hearing Jerusalem bells ringing and Roman cavalry choirs singing. These are both symbolic references to religion and war. The narrator then goes on to talk about their need for a mirror, sword, and shield, which could be interpreted as their desire for power and protection. The last line of the verse, “my missionaries in a foreign field”, could be a reference to the narrator’s followers or supporters who are in a foreign land, trying to spread their ideology.
Chorus
The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the narrator’s downfall:
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
Bridge
The bridge of the song is as follows:
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
Here, the narrator talks about not being able to explain why they know that Saint Peter (who guards the gates of heaven) won’t call their name. This could be interpreted as the narrator’s guilt or regret over their past actions. The last line of the bridge, “But that was when I ruled the world”, once again highlights the narrator’s loss of power and the nostalgia that they feel for a time when they were in control.
Chorus
The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the narrator’s downfall:
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
Conclusion
“When I ruled the world” is a powerful song that explores themes of power, loss, and regret. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be applied to a wide range of situations, from personal relationships to political power struggles. Coldplay’s music and lyrics have touched the hearts of many people around the world and continue to be popular to this day.
