RetroWARTHINK 022: Saved by the Love of a Good Woman?
MUSIC: TANKS THAT FLY: How to Rule the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ADcUthPdo
“I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine"
--Song of Solomon 6:3, King James Bible
Coldplay – 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
And that was when
I ruled the world
It was a 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 are ringing
Roman Calvary
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
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh,
oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh,
oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh,
oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh,
oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh,
oh
I hear Jerusalem
bells are ringing
Roman Calvary
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
****
I think the above is a personal LOVE song from Napoleon to his beloved Josephine.
https://blog.napoleon-cologne.fr/en/napoleon-and-josephine-an-ordinary-couple/
"Sleep alone" and "once you go" are the keys to this lovely, beautiful song.
Without her around, no one stood up for the TRUTH with all the YES MEN surrounding him.
He is asking her to be his mirror; to tell the world the truth about him because there was no honesty when he was in charge--he was actually along for the stereotypical, head-of-state ride.
He seems remorseful and sad so I hope Saint Peter calls his name.
NOTES
https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858719657
When I first heard this song, I thought of Napoleon. "I used to rule the world" could be referring to the fact that Napoleon did, in fact, eventually conquer most of Europe. "Now in the morning I sleep alone" could be about his exile on Saint Helena after his reign as Emperor. The part about feeling "the fear in my enemies' eyes" could be about how he was so powerful and everyone in Europe feared him, especially those under his rule. "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" could be a reference to the death of Louis XVI and the French monarchy and the subsequent rise to power of Napoleon. "One minute I held the key, next the doors were closed on me" could be about how he essentially ruled most of the civilized world, then met his defeat at Waterloo. The part about the castles standing "upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand" could be about how he thought he was unstoppable, but then everything fell to pieces around him. The "wicked and wild wind" could be a reference to the French Revolution, which "blew down the doors to let me in" (basically giving Napoleon the chance to seize power.) The Jerusalem bells and Roman cavalry choirs could be an indirect, religious reference to Napoleon's feud with and then capture of Pope Pius VII. "People couldn't believe what I'd become" could be about how Napoleon rose from being a Soldier all the way up to Emperor and arguably the most powerful person in Europe at the time. The part about "revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate" could be about the continuing political turbulence in France throughout Napoleon's reign, and how many were unhappy with the way he ruled.
However,
I have also heard people say it's about Louis XVI, which I could
understand. I would have to say whoever it is about would most likely be
French, as referenced by the French flag on the album cover. But I don't know.
Even if it isn't about anyone in specific, it's still an excellent song about
power and the rise and fall of a leader.
Thank you, babibabi, for being the first person I've seen
to agree with me! (Forgive me if I missed anyone else!)
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