My Spin on Viva La Vida by Coldplay

I know this sounds extremely anticlimactic but one of the best scenes from the TV Show Suits is the final montage. Apart from the obvious reminiscence for the fans, what makes it stands out is the song running in the background. I was hooked the first time I listened to it and it has been a constant in my playlist ever since. I am talking about the song Viva La Vida by Coldplay.

As someone who loves history, this song definitely stands out from the rest, for me, because it takes a pivotal moment from the French Revolution and turns it into an absolute banger. A huge part of the Renaissance was the overthrowing of King Louis XVI, who was a powerful and authoritarian ruler. There is a story that when Louis XVI was walking up to be publicly executed via guillotine, he tried to give one final speech to his people but the drums’ sounds and people’s screams were too loud so no one could hear him. Viva La Vida is an interpretation of his last words. This essay is my take on the song’s lyrics.

A major theme in this song is that Louis XVI is not asking for forgiveness. His words are not pleading for mercy. He has accepted his fate. This is a show of arrogance and pride, laced with the tiniest amount of regret. With that fascinating perspective to consider, let’s dive right into it.

“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”

The first stanza sets the context perfectly. Louis ruled the world. Everything happened according to his whims and fancies. He probably had an entire harem of queens, a huge set of ministers and officials and an army to command. But now he is left alone to fend for himself. Everything that he thought belonged to him does not anymore. The people have taken charge of the kingdom and his status is reduced to that of a common sweeper – just a nobody, frail and powerless.

“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”

The second stanza continues in the same vein. A die is unpredictable. In gambling, it can change fortunes. It holds all the power. Everything rests on the person rolling the dice; he calls the shots. That is exactly how powerful Louis XVI was. He exuded it. As the ruler of France, a mighty empire, he commanded everything and everyone. Every time he faced his enemies during his conquests, he could feel the fear in their eyes. His newly conquered subjects sung his praises. The fear he instilled, the feel of victory and the crowds’ chants was a heady concoction. Here was a man, completely in control of his destiny. The feeling had not even fully evaporated when the rug was pulled from under him. He held the key to the door of exuberance. But then the walls closed on him, trapping him, no more under his command. That is when he has an epiphany – nothing he built is permanent. His castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand. He has been stripped bare of his possessions – a man of no means, no power, nothing.

“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”

The refrain talks about the present. He hears the bells ring and cavalry sing, cheering for his death. As he is readying himself to face his execution, he tells himself to be his own compatriot just like his sword and shield were when he was in a foreign land. The last two lines of the stanza are that of introspection, something he probably does before he goes out to the battlefield by checking his own reflection in the glittering surface of his weapons. Today, before his final battle, he does it once more. Thinking back on his experience as a king, he realises that once you are in a position of power, everybody lies to you. Some do it to please you, others to mislead you. You have no true friends, only foes. But maybe that was just when he 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?”

The next stanza goes back to the themes of the first two. The French army was a force to be reckoned with – almost as strong as Mother Nature herself. They were a wicked and wild wind, toppling anything that stood in their way. As their commander, Louis XVI, most likely never really understood the concept of defeat. He just collected his souvenirs of victory. Despite the damage all the wars inflicted, all he could hear were the drums of triumph. It was the brightest the French monarchy had shone, right before its fall. The magnificence stunned all – they couldn’t believe that someone so young was the leader of it all. Of course, glory does not come without its consequences. Once the masses started revolting, Louis XVI was painted as the villain. His death would be a commemoration of freedom. Reflecting on all this, he realises that he was just a puppet on the lonely string. His policies that favoured the people did not favour the nobility. His war policies in favour of America emptied his treasury. No matter what he did, he could not please all; he was always to blame. Being a king comes with its fair share of responsibilities and who would ever want to bear all of that alone?

“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”

With that, we are back to the chorus. It is almost the same as before except for one change. For some reason he can’t explain, Louis knows that despite everything, he wasn’t perfect. Saint Peter was not going to let him into Heaven. He was going to face Lucifer. He knows his highs; he knows his lows. His acceptance of what is to come is a statement – he is not going to bow down to fate. He lived with held high and he is going to die the same way. Maybe he was a fantastic ruler; maybe he failed. He will never know as there was never an honest word but that was when he ruled the world.

As seen above, the lyrics are poet’s goldmine. The profuse usage of literary devices such as metaphors and alliterations add a magnetic touch to the words. But Viva La Vida is not just about its elegiac lyrics and somewhat dark theme. The musical elements of this song are extraordinary. You will find yourself bopping your head the second the opening chords begin. From then on, the song soars in with a grandiose instrumental arrangement. Bells and chimes and orchestral swells are all there on the chorus, but Chris Martin's voice still pierces through like a clarion call. This entire song is a masterclass on how to artistically arrange instruments. It provides an 18th century feel and the closing chords are haunting, which brings the listener back to reality. Once you allow yourself to be lost in the magic weaved by the lyrics and the vocals, you will feel goosebumps prickle your skin. Viva La Vida is one such song you could never get tired of. In fact, it is a crime if you do.