Viva la Vida
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 enemy’s 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’t explain*
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t 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 know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
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’t explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
第一次听x唱这首歌，旋律上扬，节奏明快，第二遍副歌的时候我跟着他哼唱起来。他向我解释何为"roll the dice"，讲了路易十六怎么被砍头的，唏嘘一番后继续朗朗地唱了起来。
歌词是以法国大革命为背景，写了路易十六和玛丽皇后，曾经坐拥万里城邦，翻手为云覆手雨，颇有如烽火戏诸侯君王与妾身的愚人自傲。当耶路撒冷的钟声正在响起，罗马骑兵唱诗班正在吟唱，最后断壁残垣礼崩乐坏，曾经主宰的日月不在，我统治的世界原来从未真正属于我。
最后一句“Oh who would ever want to be king?”是词者对国王的同情与无奈，如能选择，他不会选择建立在巨大背叛下坐拥王城的荣耀。
后来x离开了，我再也没听他唱过。我始终不懂为何他如此执着地喜欢这首歌，后来我懂了，Viva la vida，生命万岁，自由万岁。
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
从未听闻只字真言
那就是我统领世界的岁月
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