[yndige23]

So has anyone heard the new Coldplay song 'Viva la viva'.... I can't really figure out what it is getting at with all of the religious overtones. Part of it seems almost anti-Catholic, but I just can't put my finger on what they're trying to get at.
Anyway, here are the lyrics:

Quote

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
Listened 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
Missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone 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 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 St Peter won’t call my name

Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

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 St Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

[kujo]

yndige23, on May 27 2008, 10:12 PM, said:

So has anyone heard the new Coldplay song 'Viva la viva'.... I can't really figure out what it is getting at with all of the religious overtones. Part of it seems almost anti-Catholic, but I just can't put my finger on what they're trying to get at.
Anyway, here are the lyrics:

I'm pretty sure the "I know St. Peter won't call my name" is a referrence to not being ready to die yet, not a jab at the Church. My sense of this song is that it's written from the perspective of someone watching the end of the world.

[CrossCuT]

The hardest thing I find with interpreting this song is WHO the speaker is.
It almost as if it changes....

It seems pretty possible to me if the speaker in the first 2 stanzas is Jesus himself.
To me, the main idea of the song is about how after Jesus left earth, everything felt apart.
"Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word"


"And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand"
This line I believe broadly refers to how Christianity has no real meaning or base in society anymore. (in the opinion of the speaker)


"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?"

Could this possibly refer to materialism? The "new" king that people worship?
BUt yet they are still using 'Me'...hfsdjkfhlaeusjdg

I dunno.

Overall though, I think the song definitely has a negative feeling towards Christianity.
So does "Violet Hill" which I believe is much easier to interpret. That song in my opinion is extremely beautiful and sad!!!!!

[kujo]

CrossCuT, on May 27 2008, 11:21 PM, said:

The hardest thing I find with interpreting this song is WHO the speaker is.
It almost as if it changes....

It seems pretty possible to me if the speaker in the first 2 stanzas is Jesus himself.
To me, the main idea of the song is about how after Jesus left earth, everything felt apart.
"Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word"
"And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand"
This line I believe broadly refers to how Christianity has no real meaning or base in society anymore. (in the opinion of the speaker)
"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?"

Could this possibly refer to materialism? The "new" king that people worship?
BUt yet they are still using 'Me'...hfsdjkfhlaeusjdg

I dunno.

Overall though, I think the song definitely has a negative feeling towards Christianity.
So does "Violet Hill" which I believe is much easier to interpret. That song in my opinion is extremely beautiful and sad!!!!!

Good analysis....not sure I buy into it.

[CrossCuT]

Well...IN GENERAL, without looking too deeply into each stanza alone, I think its about ... well, its hard to explain....allow me to paraphrase!!!

1)
I used to rule the world
I was powerful
Now my Kingdome is empty

2)
My people loved me
Enemies feared my name
But now I find my castles are weak

3) [This one is tricky]
-
-
-
Once you left
Nothing was ever the same

4)
Wicked wind broke through the barriers
So that I could enter
People couldnt believe what Id become
My enemies wait to fight me again
-- and then there is that weird puppet reference...

Ok now Im starting to see the end of the world imagery....
But only in the 4th stanza.



I think we are both right.

[kujo]

CrossCuT, on May 28 2008, 12:47 PM, said:

Well...IN GENERAL, without looking too deeply into each stanza alone, I think its about ... well, its hard to explain....allow me to paraphrase!!!

1)
I used to rule the world
I was powerful
Now my Kingdome is empty

2)
My people loved me
Enemies feared my name
But now I find my castles are weak

3) [This one is tricky]
-
-
-
Once you left
Nothing was ever the same

4)
Wicked wind broke through the barriers
So that I could enter
People couldnt believe what Id become
My enemies wait to fight me again
-- and then there is that weird puppet reference...

Ok now Im starting to see the end of the world imagery....
But only in the 4th stanza.
I think we are both right.

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE HIGHLANDER!!!

J/K...when I listen to it, I think of America. I think of how our status in the world--our moral high ground, our strength, our perpetual growth and idealism-- has seemed to decline in the past decade or two. I think of the hope we had at the end of the Cold War, when we became the only superpower...when we could do anything. That has all changed now.

That's what I thought of. You could be right.

[CrossCuT]

Have you ever looked at the lyrics to 'Violet Hill'?
I think they are both pretty related in the ideas they convey.
Now I dont know much about history and social junk (it is not at all my area of expertise), so whatever you just said could be right, could be wrong but there is no way for me to tell.

But I still stand by my idea....it seems pretty simple to me. :idontknow:

[kafka]

anyone download the whole album?

[kujo]

kafka, on Jun 11 2008, 02:04 PM, said:

anyone download the whole album?

Doesn't come out until next week!!

:excited:

[CrossCuT]

I cheated! :weep:


I listened to most of the new tracks already.
I WRECKED it for myself!


I feel sick and horrible!

But I only listened to them ONCE and not even all the way through, so I dont even remember them!!!!




IM SOOOO EXCITED THOUGH

Im buying it day 1.

[EricTheRed]

IDK if i would buy the album but that commercial is cool

http://youtube.com/watch?v=19tXpRRGeUg

This post has been edited by EricTheRed: 11 June 2008 - 09:11 PM

[CrossCuT]

Oh man! That thing gives me the shivers!!!! :love:

[EricTheRed]

ha

[Faith 1st]

I agree with EricTheRed.....I bought the song on iTunes and have listened to it alot....

Along with other stuff

[EricTheRed]

check this out i just came across this, these guys are good http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

[Faith 1st]

Thanks Eric I enjoyed watching these guys...I think that I saw all the clips with them and they are cool...

[kafka]

picking it up tonight! Though I think Radiohead is more brilliant I have a weak spot for Coldplay.

[Theologian in Training]

So, I was reading all the reviews on iTunes and how different their sound was, etc. I dloaded it because I thought it sounded good, but was expecting to not like it as much. Honestly, I think this is probably their best! This is the only CD of theirs that I have not had to skip a single song. If it is a new sound it is not noticeable to me and I think it is great! Listened to it once and thought it was great, I am sure it would be even better the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. listen :)

[rachael]

http://www.songmeani...822107858719657

[kafka]

CrossCuT, on Jun 11 2008, 10:16 PM, said:

Oh man! That thing gives me the shivers!!!! :love:

I definitely think this song is about a King who is executed or put in exile by revolutionaries.