music blurb...coldplay vs. the Pope? I think not...

Here are the lyrics for Viva la Vida by Coldplay. The discussion follows.

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




I'm no expert like Mark Joseph; but then I have almost no faith in experts. Mr. Joseph suggests that he sees "a direct albeit melodic attack on the Catholic Church." The telling verse for Mr. Joseph is the verse "For some reason I can't explain, I know St. Peter won't call my name," ...for Mr. Joseph, "those sound like fighting words to me." He doesn't seem to think an explanation is needed for the contradictory verse further on: "I know Saint Peter will call my name"

Mr. Joseph then directs us to "a smarter person than he" who lays out a more extensive review of the lyrics. The "smarter one" goes on to state:

"I was on a site discussing the same question when someone mentioned that it was about the fall of the Catholic church. I'd have to agree. The Catholic Church had a major role in medieval politics, which could explain the line "I used to rule the world". "I used to role the dice" may refer to the risks the church took in politics, which "Listen as the crowd would sing 'The old king is dead, long live the king!'" could refer to the church standing by as new kings came to power and then died. "I know Saint Peter won't call my name" might be a hint that the practices of the church were never completely saintly. "It was the wicked and wild wind, blew down the doors and let me in" could be something about the turmoil in the middle ages. The religious imagery throughout the song would also lend credence to this explanation."

Mr. Joseph directs us to other commentators in his search for meaning in Viva la Vida: "it represents all leaders and the rise and falls of their nations, like Napoleon, he ruled the world but then he fell and the french worked for countries that they used to rule. Saint Peter wouldn't talk to King Henry because he made his own religion branch of Christianity."

I checked out a number of interviews with coldplay, here and here. Chris Martin appears reluctant to talk much about the lyrics. I think this is following in a reasonable songwriting tradition. A clue to his thinking comes from one interview where Martin says his way to make sense of his day is to sit down and sing about it. He clearly doesn't want to clarify his lyrics as evidenced by an interview in which he "stormed out of a radio interview this week, accusing the show presenter of manipulating his words" when the interviewer suggested that his lyrics were morbid. He did return but the interview was basically over after that.

Let's look at the lyrics and see if interpreting them is really so difficult and murky. Read each verse then look at my quick take on it. Then compare to the other takes linked above. The lyrics seem pretty straightforward to me.

Verse 1. I used to be arrogant, prideful and controlling; I've been humbled.

Verse 2. I used to be an adrenaline junky; I used to follow the crowd...the dictates of fashion.

Verse 3. I used to think I had all the answers; I was looking in the wrong place.

Verse 4. This verse is more complicated because it changes voice. The first 6 lines are contrasted with the last - where in the last line Chris Martin again restates the theme from the first 3 verses.

Verse 5. I was called by dark/evil forces that lead me away from innocence; it changed me in the same way that loss of innocence changes all those who stray - into a realm where dignity and beauty are lost or dulled. I became a puppet of the forces of the world. Who would ever want this disconnected, barren way?

Verse 6. repeat of Verse 4 interpretation.

Verse 7. Now things come to their conclusion. Again the Chorus is contrasted with a change in voice of the last 3 lines. This is the climax of the song: "I know Saint Peter will call my name" So we have a song here about a spiritual journey. Very nicely done. Very easy to understand. And I can certainly see why Chris Martin doesn't feel the need to explain the lyrics.