If we analize the lyrics, the song has obvious biblical references and I think it's a song about

Jesus Christ.

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

All catholics should know that Jesus Christ gave the word and he controlled the seas - I think that
the line now in the morning I sweep alone clearly means that Jesus Christ was betrayed and had
to endure many things alone! The first verse is talking about a decline from wealth and fame to a
nobody, just like Jesus Christ experienced on his life! He used to be a king, but he had to die for
all human beings..So on a certain way he turned over his kingship (I used to rule the world).
Clear reference of someone giving God kingship over his life.

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, pillars of sand

The line upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand, possibly is a reference to the sermon on the
mount where Jesus speaks of a wise man building is house on a rock while the foolish man
builds his house on the sand, only to be washed away.

Those days, there were different kings! Ones thought the king was Jesus Christ himself, others
thought the king was the Roman authority and other thought the king was the Jewish priests.

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 know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

Jerusalem bells and Roman Cavalry, it's obvious it's a biblical allusion. I think the line Be my
mirror my sword and shield, it's a praying to God for strength. Also, the line my missionaries in a
foreign field, has to do with the idea of taking the message of God and Jesus Christ all around
the world. Finally, never an honest word, meaning the betrayal to Jesus Christ and his
subsequent death.

I know St. Peter won't call my name, referring to the fact that Saint Peter denied Jesus 3 times.

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 wanna be king?

This could be a reference to John the Baptist of the New Testament.

In The Book of Mark, John is noted as the one that comes before Jesus to announce His coming
to Earth. A lot of people thought he (John) was going to be their Messiah, however he corrected
them and told them that it was the One after him that would fill that role. I, also, argue that point
because it is said somewhere that John's head was brought to king Herod on a Silver Platter.

Blew down the doors to let me in, meaning when Jesus Christ got furious because they turned
the temple into a market!

EDIT: After thinking about it, the line "The old king is dead, long live the king" could be a
reference to Jesus being on the cross. All of the people mocking him, and King of Jews above his
head.

I'll re-post an answer I gave to the same question elsewhere.

Okay, so I am seeing tons of crap out there about what this particular song means. And, most of
them (in my opinion) are way, WAY off the mark.

There is a very long-winded explanation trying to compare the song to Napoleon. That is wrong
for any number of reasons which a basic history book would reveal. Napoleon never went to
Jerusalem, so far as I recall (and I have studied his reign quite a bit - but if anyone else knows he
did, please correct me). Also, "Roman cavalry choirs" are anachronistic to the Napoleonic era.
And, it would be odd to pen such an overtly religious song in reference to Napoleon, a ruler who
was at worst irreligious, or at best agnostic to organized religion.

Also, there are references to the doomed Bourbon king, Louis XVI. Again, I believe that is flat-out
wrong too, for most of the above reasons. I think these folks feel this way, mainly for the
reference to the "head on a silver plate" and the overall remarks about lost power. France was a
Catholic nation, so the references to Jerusalem and Saint Peter might fit. But, again, it would be
anachronistic for Louis XVI to reference a Roman Cavalry choir.

However, if you want my best guess, I think the song is about 1 of 2 potential people: the Roman
Emperor Tiberius (heir to Augustus), or else Pontius Pilate.

For Pontius Pilate, I think there are a couple of pieces of compelling evidence. First, there is are
the References to "Roman Cavalry choir" and "Jerusalem." Pontius Pilate was the governor of
Jerusalem during the period of Christ, and (as everyone knows the tale) condemned Christ to
crucifixion (on the mount known as Calvary). For his deed, Pilate was condemned to walk the
Earth for eternity.

I think this could be revealed in the title, "Viva la Vida." There are several ways to interpret and
translate the phrase. But, a common one would be "the life lives," or maybe something like "long
live the life." However, apparently in Mexico (see the source) where the phrase originated, it can
be interpreted as "Long Live Life." So, that could really speak well to Pilate's punishment to live
forever and walk the Earth in despair, wringing his hands.

I think you can draw some other pretty clear parallels. As Roman Governor, he was the
representative of the Emperor in Rome. So, the song could be the reflection of a man who was
once so powerful, but now finds himself cast down from power. Think about it: the Roman Empire
is long gone, and Pilate (walking the Earth today) would be led to reflect how he used to be so
powerful, but that power is now all gone, perhaps reminiscent of the inscription from Shelley's
"Ozymandias."
And, of course, there is the reflection of what philosophers have called the "slave philosophy" of
Christianity. That is, the notion that the Christian religion, in preaching humility, forgiveness, and
that "the meek shall inherit the Earth," would be capable of overcoming the greatest empire the
world has ever seen (the Romans). This could be a good interpretation for the references to
missionaries, etc. And of course, there is the point about Saint Peter not allowing the speaker
into Heaven. As Pontius Pilate was doomed to forever walk the Earth, I think that is pretty clear.

Now, if you want *MY* personal opinion, I think there is actually a stronger case for Tiberius, the
second Roman Emperor. He reigned during the life of Christ and Peter, which would explain the
references to goings-on in Jerusalem. The Roman Emperor was viewed as a living god, virtually
omnipotent, which would explain the references to controlling the sun. Tiberius was also a
ruthless and successful Roman general, which would explain the comments about "roll the dice"
(as in, in battle) and seeing the "fear in my enemy's eyes."

I believe the "old king" could easily be interpreted as Augustus (the first emperor), upon whose
death in AD 14 Tiberius was declared the new king.

But, what I find most intriguing is the following passage:

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

In 31 AD, the Praetorian Prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus attempted to organize a coup to
overthrow Tiberius and install himself as the new emperor. In the end, the plot was discovered
and the conspirators were tried for treason (and punished ... severely). The trial also paved the
way for a reign of terror of sorts, where Tiberius purged a number of potential threats to his
power, leading to many deaths (including many of the Senatorial ranks).

However, the trials and the fear aroused by the conspiracy had an exhausting effect on Tiberius.
Eventually, and in an almost unheard of step, he voluntarily went into exile on the island of Capri,
leaving the administration of Rome to his bureaucrats. The conventional historical wisdom is
Tiberius grew paranoid of the plots and came to loathe the position of ruler; essentially, becoming
an unwilling ruler. Now, I think the whole episode of Sejanus is reflected in that telling passage:

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

And finally, we have the reference of Saint Peter I think is also telling. Tiberius was the emperor
during the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ; in fact, his representative (the Governor, Pontius
Pilate) actually condemned Jesus Christ to that fate. As such, it would not be implausible for
Tiberius, in exile, having seeing the rise of Christianity, to fear he would not be allowed into
Heaven (by Saint Peter, the gatekeeper of Heaven) for what he had allowed to happen.

Now, there is one issue with the above interpretation. Scholars tend to believe Peter only died
(by crucifixion) around 64 AD, whereas Tiberius died in 37 AD. So, how would Tiberius know to
call him "Saint Peter" as that process of beatification and sainthood must have occurred after
Tiberius was already deceased? I would argue that it is simply poetic license on the part of Chris
Martin. If he had simply said "I know Peter won't call my name," beyond noticeably missing the
extra syllable, no one would easily be able to understand who "Peter" was, and the religious
impact would be lost.
Just my 2 pence, but I think it fits rather nicely myself :) Cheers.
Source(s):
Pontius Pilate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontius_pil...
http://www.coldplaying.com/index.php?nam...

Tiberius:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius

It is a very literal interpretational ballad of Napoleon in the moments before his death in exile. I
believe it is on Napoleon because of the Heavy French Classical influence coursing through the
song as well as the Album cover, being a French Revolutionary Painting. Who else in France had
a shot at ruling the world?

The first three verses are where he recounts his former glory ("Old king is dead, long live the
king") when he was going to rule the world, and how he held such power over his enemy. ("I used
to rule the world/ Roll the dice") And then he tells of his downfall, when he sees that he cannot
rule the world, and how he has become the lowest.("Now in the morning/ sweep the streets I
used to own/ the walls were closed on me") Sweeping is a nobody job, so He is saying that he is
now a nobody.

The chorus, which varies progressively, is a realization that he sees his own death. (Bells and
Choirs would ring and sing, respectively, during a Funeral Procession, in some cases) "Mirror
Sword and Shield" could mean that he is awaiting heaven, since the three are very Christian
symbols. "Missionaries" is another Christian allusion, but appears to be useless, unless referring
to that he is asking that a room in Heaven be prepared for him. "For Some Reason I can't
explain, once you go..." appears to be a filler line, since it takes a different meaning later on.
"That was when I ruled the world" is just a reprising line that sounds good. It restates that he no
longer is glorious, and will die soon.

All the way from "Wicked and Wild wind" to "Oh who would ever want to be king" is a
remembrance of his own rise to power and use of it. Also, because the French would Execute
using the Guillotine, the "head on a silver plate" line also is an Allusion to Napoleonic France, as
well as John the Baptist's death.

The second Chorus is the same, save for the line, "I know saint peter won't call my name". this is
Napoleon saying he won't go to heaven since he was a tyrant. Saint Peter calling a name is
symbolic of dying and going to Heaven.

There is an instrumental bridge where I suppose you could say Napoleon realizes death is
inevitable, and accepts it, while the music becomes stronger.

The final Chorus has the change of "I know Saint peter won't call my name" to "I know Saint
Peter WILL call my name" Saying that Napoleon accepts his death. You can imagine Napoleon
Closing his eyes at the words "When I ruled the world"

The song ends with a choir singing the main chords in harmony, in a sad, thoughtful fadeout,
suggesting Napoleon is dead.
Source(s):
It's pretty logical if you think about it.

When Christ died, he went to hell and took the keys of death and hell from Satan. If you listen to
the words (My mirror, my shield, my sword)...It's sounds like My mere soul is in Sheol (a.k.a hell)
and missionals (not my missionaries) are in spread throughout foreign lands. Remember it's not
always what the songwriter writes but how one listens and interrprets the words. Led Zepplin did
this in some of their songs where words didn't make sense on paper but when you hear it, its
another sentance in its entirety.

Christ didn't role the dice, the soldiers casted lots for his clothes when he was on the cross.
Christ was scared when he went to the cross but he did it out of obedience. When he went to the
cross out of obedience, Satan's doninion failed. Hence how he lost the keys and his kingdom
failed through Christ's sacrifice. (one king dead, another lives). Though its written as sand, if you
listen, he says salt. (Lot's wife Sodom & Gomorrah), canyons of the earth are made of salt..Salt
is sand.
Think about it... Satan is still King of this earth until Christ come and set up his dominion.(Book of
Revelation)..St. Pete calls on Christ often, but Satan will not be called by St. Pete.