Viva La Vida

Chock-full of historical and biblical references that flows like a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power from the perspective of a deposed dictator. Some have said it was Napolean, other Louis XVI. It's not a perfect fit, but my call is Louis XVI. Regardless, the French revolutionary origins are unmistakable.

So Napolean vs Louis：

1. I really liked the line, "I used to roll the dice, And feel the fear in my enemy's eyes". First reaction was Napolean's pre-Waterloo days. And yeah, it sounds really bad ass. BUT, it could also be the delusions on grandeur of Louis XVI. He did authorize French aid for the American revolution, as well as French involvement in India and Vietnam. And since he was closeted, I'm sure his advisors really trumped up th glorious of French conquests the world over. Since it's from the first person perspective, we'll never really know.
=> a wash

2. "And I discovered that my castles stand / Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand". Cool biblical imagery here. Definitely more like XVI. Napolean was defeated in battle. Louis XVI repeatedly had his castle stormed.
=> Louis XVI

3. "Now in the morning I sleep alone / Sweep the streets I used to own". This is not like Louis XVI. The royal family was placed under house arrest before Louis was executed. Napolean however was exiled and had considerably more freedom for a longer period of time.
=> Napolean

4. "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" Napolean wasn't the successor to the throne in the traditional sense as implied by this line. He was declared Emperor after quite sometime as the de facto ruler of France already.
=> Louis XVI

5. This is an aside: "I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing / Roman Cavalry choirs are singing". I think this is a mistake in the lyrics. Should be "Roman Calvary choirs", not "cavalry". I thought the lyrics I found were wrong, but they're actually singing "cavalry" in the song as well. Tisk tisk.
=> N/A

6. "Revolutionaries wait / For my head on a silver plate
/ Just a puppet on a lonely string / Oh who would ever want to be king?"
Unmistakably Louis. Napolean WAS a revolutionary, and he was never beheaded or had the French people wanting to execute him. Moreover, he was NEVER a puppet. On the other hand, Louis, especially late in his reign, had ceded a lot of his power to his ministers. And the 'Oh who would ever want to be king?' sounds like the whining of someone born of privilege.
=> Louis XVI

7. "Never an honest word / But that was when I ruled the world". I would lean towards Louis XVI on this one. Napolean came from humble origins and he was defeated in battle, not through him deluding himself.
=> Louis XVI

So on balance, it sounds much more like Louis XVI than Napolean. There is one point that is more Napolean, and another point that could be both. But on balance, Louis XVI just dominated.


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"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 a 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 hear Jerusalem bells a 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
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

I hear Jerusalem bells a 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 won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world"