L Y R I C A N A L Y S I S B Y A N N A B E L L E E S E S S O M S
Viva La Vida
by Coldplay
1st Stanza
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
 Allusion
 God
parting the
Red Sea
 Assonance
 “sleep”, “sw
eep”, and
“streets”
 Lost Power
2nd Stanza
 Gambled with
power
 Hyperbole
 Showing
his original
fame
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!”
3rd Stanza
 Allusion
 Genesis
19:26
 Matthew
7:26
 Lost power
quickly
 Did not
build a
solid
foundation
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
4th
Stanza/Chorus
 Allusion
 God sends
missionaries
out to do his
work for him
 Did not put the
effort into ruling
 Had other
people do
his work
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
5th Stanza
 Lied to keep his
power
 Lost his
integrity
 Tone:
 reflective
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
(I know Saint Peter won’t call my name)
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
6th Stanza
 Alliteration
 “… wicked
and wild
wind”
 Power took
control of him
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
7th Stanza
 Allusion
 Matthew
14:8
 Realizes others
control his
power
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
P O W E R C O R R U P T S
Theme:

Song analysis

  • 1.
    L Y RI C A N A L Y S I S B Y A N N A B E L L E E S E S S O M S Viva La Vida by Coldplay
  • 2.
    1st Stanza I usedto 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  Allusion  God parting the Red Sea  Assonance  “sleep”, “sw eep”, and “streets”  Lost Power
  • 3.
    2nd Stanza  Gambledwith power  Hyperbole  Showing his original fame 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!”
  • 4.
    3rd Stanza  Allusion Genesis 19:26  Matthew 7:26  Lost power quickly  Did not build a solid foundation 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
  • 5.
    4th Stanza/Chorus  Allusion  Godsends missionaries out to do his work for him  Did not put the effort into ruling  Had other people do his work I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field
  • 6.
    5th Stanza  Liedto keep his power  Lost his integrity  Tone:  reflective For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never (I know Saint Peter won’t call my name) Never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world
  • 7.
    6th Stanza  Alliteration “… wicked and wild wind”  Power took control of him 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
  • 8.
    7th Stanza  Allusion Matthew 14:8  Realizes others control his power Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh who would ever want to be king?
  • 9.
    P O WE R C O R R U P T S Theme: