My interpretation of these lyrics from a song by the group Coldplay follows the history of Charles X of France. This
song had a powerful effect on me and I decided to figure out why by examining the lyrics.
Charles X (9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) ruled as King of France and Navarre from 20 May 1824 until the French
Revolution of 1830, when he abdicated. He was the last king of the senior Bourbon line to reign over France.
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word [A monarch ruled by decree,
and Charles X was used to giving out orders or decrees to be followed, such as the infamous "four ordinances" responsible
for igniting the July 1830 revolution in France. Perhaps Moses parting the Red Sea.] Now in the morning I sleep
alone [When Louise de Polastron died of consumption in 1804, Charles took a vow of perpetual chastity. His grief
was intense, for he had been truly in love with her. His religious convictions strengthened and he became even more devout
than he had been before. His personal life became "entirely blameless". In his later years, he enthusiastically supported
the Ultramontane movement within the Roman Catholic Church.] Sweep the streets I used to own [The street
sweeper was possibly the lowest job - in contrast to the Monarch or King.]
I used to roll the dice Feel
the fear in my enemies eyes [Charles had none of the patience and commonsense which had enabled Louis XVIII to play
with decency the part of a constitutional king. "I would rather hew wood", he exclaimed, "than be a king under the conditions
of the king of England"... Charles was an impossible monarch for the 19th century, or perhaps for any other century. He was
a typical Bourbon, unable either to learn or to forget] Listen as the crowd would sing: "Now the old king is
dead! Long live the king!" [Louis XVIII died on 16 September 1824, and his brother, who took the title Charles X,
aged 67, succeeded him – the only normal succession of French heads of state during the 19th century.]
One
minute I held the key [On 27 September Charles X, as he was now known, made his state entry into Paris to popular
acclaim. During the ceremony, while presenting the King the keys to the city, the comte de Chabrol, Prefect of the Seine,
declared: "Proud to possess its new king, Paris can aspire to become the queen of cities by its magnificence, as its people
aspire to be foremost in its fidelity, its devotion, and its love."] Next the walls were closed on me
[The gates in city walls were often closed at night, keeping out nonresidents who had access to the city during
the daytime. ] And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand [In
the book of Genesis, Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt when she defies the order of God and looks back on the destruction
of the city of Sodom... Also Matthew 7:24-29
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which
built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall
of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."]
I hear Jerusalem
bells are ringing [Bells in the Christian quarter, Jerusalem - Charles X was a devout Catholic - we have Catholic
imagery here - perhaps these are the thoughts of Charles X] Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror my
sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field [July 5, 1830 France invades Algeria] For some
reason I can not explain Once you know there was never, never an honest word [Proverbs 16:13 "Kings are happy
with honest words, and whoever speaks what is right is loved."] That was when I ruled the world (Ohhh)
[note unusual dancing or exaggerated body movements in the video at this point - the singer (Chris
Martin) is pretending to be hit by a "wicked and wild wind"] It was the wicked and wild wind
[economist Joseph Schumpeter described the economic, sociological, and organizational impacts of innovation
and its 'winds of creative destruction.' Those winds sweep away both old ways of doing things and the enterprises and institutions
that cling to them.] Blew down the doors to let me in. [The restoration of the monarchy in France in 1814
after the French Revolution of 1789-1799 and the rise and fall of fall of Napoleon put the future Charles X in line for
the throne - indeed a "wicked and wild wind"] Shattered windows and the sound of drums [On the 25th of
July were issued the famous "four ordinances" which were the immediate cause of the revolution that followed.
With singular fatuity Charles had taken no precautions in view of a violent outbreak. Marshal Marmont, who
commanded the scattered troops in Paris, had received no orders, beyond a jesting command from the Duke of Angoul�me to place
them under arms "as some windows might be broken."] People could not believe what I'd become [An uncompromising,
dictatorial monarch unwilling to be checked by the will of the people] Revolutionaries Wait [July
27-29 1830 Revolution toppled the rule of Charles X] For my head on a silver plate [King Herod was tricked
into killing John the Baptist in this manner in return for a dance of Herodias's daughter Salome] Just a puppet
on a lonely string [Charles X believed in the divine right of kings and could not accept the restrictions of a constitutional
monarch] 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
Joe Satriani, the famed and respected guitarist, has filed suit against Chris Martin and Coldplay.
The issue: that their soaring, magnificent song, “Viva La Vida,” also the title track from their Grammy-nominated
album of the same name, is plagiarized.
Satriani says a major portion of the song comes from his 2004 instrumental, “If I Could Fly.” The song is
on his 10th album, “Is There Love in Space?”
Perhaps Coldplay's Grammy award chances borrow from their song lines:
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
