Ok so I first saw this video on Kanye’s blog over a week ago and thought it was cool, but it wasn’t until I heard the song a couple more times on the radio/tv that I completely fell in love with the song. I think this is one of the most genius songs this decade. It’s actually a song with meaning. I’ve had time to listen to the lyrics and get a better feel of the song and what it’s talking about. It’s basically about some leader who rose to high power and then falls to nothing after a dishones and wicked rule.
I searched the internet and found all sorts of ridiculous interpretations of the song. It’s funny how far fetched people’s opinions can be. Most of them we’re close to it and pin-pointed leaders like George Bush, Napoleon etc, but one very DUMM poster says here that the song is talking about Jesus Christ blah blah about how he was a king on earth and something about the temple and a decline from wealth and fame to a nobody. I mean how stupid could people be? When was Jesus ever wealthy?
Someone even inked the lyrics to King Henry VIII and King Louis XVI. Oh jeez…we need to put a leash on some people’s history perspectives.
The album cover almost gives the meaning of the song away as it depicts French battle/revolution.
Here is the answer to everyone’s dum interpretations (found here):
Bassist Guy Berryman explained to Q magazine July 2008 about this song that features lyrics about cavalries, missionaries and kings: “It’s a story about a king who’s lost his kingdom, and all the album’s artwork is based on the idea of revolutionaries and guerrillas. There’s this slightly anti-authoritarian viewpoint that’s crept into some of the lyrics and it’s some of the payoff between being surrounded by governments on one side, but also we’re human beings with emotions and we’re all going to die and the stupidity of what we have to put up with every day. Hence the album title.”
Drummer Will Champion told Q magazine February 2008 that many of the tracks on the album share a theme of “trying to remember what’s important in your life, rather than being carried away by the trappings of other things.”
So with that heard, even though I think this song mostly fits Napoleon’s story, I feel the aim was to leave it open to fit any world leader who misuses power, one of which we currently have in the US, some who might have existed in Europe, or anywhere else, and also to remind everyone listening to not get caught up with authority, fame & power.
13 Comments
How arrogant are you? Virtually ALL the imagery in these lyrics is Biblical:
“Jerusalem” (capital og Israel/Holy Land, in case your geography is none too bright), “Romans”, (Crucified Christ), “Head on a Silver plate” (the beheading of Hohn the Baptist), St.Peter (one of the disciples of Christ). Well done on being brave enough to expose your lack of education so publicly, though.
And you are educated? You obviously cant figure out that the song isn’t talking about anyone in particular and those terms are all “imagery” like you called them.
St. Peter was also not a saint till he died long after Jesus did. The song talks about revolutionaries wanting the king himself’s head, not John the baptists. Your logic is very twisted. Make up your mind. St. Peter wont call his name but its John the baptst’s head wanted on a silver plate? Not his? You’re so retarded.
“St. Peter wont call my name” simply means “I don’t deserve glory or heaven or to be called among the saints”. It’s a statement of guilt.
When did Jesus ever “feel the fear in his enemies eyes”? The song implies real war enemies, not priests. And also when did the sound of drums announce Jesus’s arrival? Clue: Napoleon ??? Sigh. And Jesus was never alive to look back at any time of his life as “when he used to rule the world”.
The song is obviosuly about someone who rose to power and due to dishonesty and wickedness lost his kingdom. then realised how superficial it all was afterwards.
You’re the one who’s exposing ur stupidity. The album cover is obviously about the French revolution and even after I posted a quote from Coldplay members themselves you still aren’t smart enough to figure it out.
Temper temper! Relax people. Jesus was wealthy because He is God and became a man which obviously made Him poor. But i really don’t think the song is about Christ, that’s too far fetched. It is interesting though to hear all these different opinions. Now lets stop fighting and VIVA LA VIDA (Live The Life
I see the possibilities in Napoleon or George W. Bush. Jesus isn’t just farfetched, it’s insane.
It’s like Ozymandias by Percy Shelley. Only this leader realizes the potential error in his ways. Similar to “Handlebars” by the Flobots, that it is some non-descript leader who has abused power in some way. Could be numerous leaders of South America.
Has anyone considered that it is not based on real leaders, but a fictional one? Other songs on the album, “42″ and “Lost?”, could suggest the show LOST. And this could be the return of them from the island.
I’m happy many more people think the song being about Jesus is far-fetched and aren’t calling me arrogant for my almost OBVIOUS opinion
Thank you for your research!
When I first was looking for an interpretation of that song I just found that strange opinions.
I agree with you saying that the song isn’t about Jesus. I think all the biblical terms within the song just refer to the king himself. Personally when I think of Kings I think back to the medieval times where Catholicism ruled in Europe. Yes the song itself could very easily be linked to french revolution because of the cover art but I think it’s just a story of a king…
It sounds more like the french revolution to me where they disposed of the king….
who is Hohn the Baptist? I say it is clearly about Napoleon just look at the cover art it is right in front of everyone the woman even looks like Josephine (Napoleons wife)
The woman on the cover isn’t Napoleons wife, she’s called Marianne and is a romanian symbol for freedom and liberalisme.
I think the song is about the french king Charles X. The cover, which is a very popular painting, is painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. By the way the painting is called “Liberty Leading the People”. And its a picture showing the july-revolution in Paris, where people marched to the kings (Charles X) palace. They faught against the army and lost many men. I think the text clearly shows us what the song basically is about, like “Listen as the crowd (people in front of palace)would sing:
“Now the old king (Charles) is dead! Long live the king!”
well… the Charles later departed for great britain. so… what do you think?
me again…
I just wanted to add that Napoleon died in 1821 – 9 years before the july revolution took place. And i definetely think that the cover art is the point of departure of this song.
I was also looking for the meaning for this song, and I was surprised that people thought it was jesus because of the bible references. I Looked on that yahoo link and many of the answers not only mis-intemperate, but actually mis-READ the Lyrics! one of them says “St Peter WILL call my name” Now I can see King Louis XVI because his poor leadership led the French to the revolution, but it was mainly his grandfather’s fault that France was so pissed. People don’t stop and think before they start spewing out everything that pops into their heads.
This can’t possibly be about the distant past. No matter the derivation of the imagery, we must assume that it’s being used as a metaphor for a subject much mre topical and immediate. Otherwise, what’s the relevance? This is pop music after all, which generaly aims to address pop culture and current events. In my opinion, the song evokes guilt and a fall from grace. Considering the political leanings of the band, and the content of the song itself, I think the song is an ode to GWB.
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