What do the Lyrics from Coldplay Viva La Vida Mean?
I think it is a literal interpretation of Napoleon just preceding his death in exile, because of the French classical influence throughout the song and the Album cover, a French Revolutionary Painting. Is he not the only person in France who could have ruled the world?
In the first (3) verses, he recounts his former glory days in "Old king is dead, long live the king", when he was going to rule the world, and how he held that power over his enemies. "I used to rule the world Roll the dice", Then, he tells of his downfall, when he sees that he cannot rule the world, and how he has become the the lowly street sweeper. "Now in the morning sweep the streets I used to own, the walls were closed on me".
In the chorus he realizes his own imminent death. Bells and Choirs would ring and sing, respectively, a funeral procession. "Mirror Sword and Shield" may mean that he is hoping for heaven. "Missionaries" is another believers allusion, but appears to be useless, unless referring to that he is asking that a room in Heaven be prepared for him. "For Some Reason I can't explain, once you go..." appears to be a filler line, and infers a different meaning later on. "That was when I ruled the world" is reflecting as we all would or do facing death. It restates that he no longer is glorious, and will die soon.
"Wicked and Wild wind" to "Oh who would ever want to be king" is a reflection of his own rise to power and influence. Also, because the French used the Guillotine to execute, the "head on a silver plate" alludes to Napoleonic France, as well as the believer John the Baptist's, death.
The second Chorus repeats except for the line, "I know saint peter won't call my name". this is Napoleon saying he won't go to heaven since he was a tyrant.
Instrumentally the bridge where I think Napoleon realizes death is imminent, and accepts it, the music becomes stronger.
The final Chorus has the change of "I know Saint peter won't call my name" to "I know Saint Peter WILL call my name" Saying that Napoleon accepts his death and hopefully believed. You can imagine Napoleon Closing his eyes at the words "When I ruled the world"
Ending with a choir singing the main chords in harmony and fading, suggests Napoleon is dead.
What do you think?
Coldplay Tickets
7 comments:
This sounds like someone is doing some real soul searching! We could say c'est la vie! ...yet we'd be missing the whole point.
I like the introspection going on about Saint Peter.
I had always looked at "Viva La Vida" as telling a fictional story of a king's fall from grace, but your connection to Napoleon makes perfect sense, I'm surprised I had never really considered exactly who had inspired the song. I really do thing it is one of the better songs I've ever heard, and I really like your interpretation.
"... the only person in France who could have ruled the world"... Wow, with the utter turmoil in France today, I'd guess that France won't be offering a world leader any time soon.
As my own quip, I'm wondering what Napoleon could have done differently in his time to avoid his demise.
As a Swiss national, Napoleon was literally at our doorstep. A look back at history and the "wicked wild wind" puts a spin on his life that we Swiss understand better as his neighbor, watching from just over the garden fence.
I want to believe this has to do with Napoleon, but there are a couple contradictions.
For one, Napoleon was never religious. Though it would be fair to assume that after his banishment, he took up religion for comfort.
He also describes himself as just a puppet. This is far from Napoleon. Napoleon was a very powerful man that knew what he was doing. He didn't get manipulated very much.
I am also unsure of "Be my mirror, my sword, my shield" I'm guessing that if the song is about Napoleon, it is referring to the Hundred Days. This would be sort of random though. It may simply be Napoleon hoping his memoirs will let him live on in someone else (i.e. his mirror).
Also, the album cover is quite a ways after Napoleon's era.
I love the song and the mystery in it. I hope one day I know for sure what it is about.
"Old king is dead, long live the king."
The Old King refers to Louis XVI, a king that commanded a monarchy. He was guillotined after a short, but not efficient interrogation.
He supposidly endangered the country, and betrayed them.
i thought it said "i know Saint Peter will call my name."
First time "I know St. Peter won't call my name", but he reverses the second time.
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