the_escapist Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Coldplay gone catholic!? 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 will call my name, referring to the fact of being admitted to heaven! 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! What do YOU think? Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_am_David_89 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I think it's true, but I don't like that coldplay gone catholic ...:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 gone religious very possibly, but catholic, not necessarily. a lot of the allusions could be relevant to most branches of christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 gone religious very possibly, but catholic, not necessarily. a lot of the allusions could be relevant to most branches of christianity Maybe you're right! But I think is very very catholic! Anyone knows the religion of the guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Wiki doesn't say, but it does say that Chris studied Ancient Worlds, and Will studied Anthropology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Biblical References do not equal being deluded/religious (synonymous). They are populist ways of getting across a point. In 'Viva La Vida' the point is that power and control corrupts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenjie Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 In an old interview, Martin is said to read the Bible regularly, and all four members profess "admiration for Christian beliefs." Martin once told the New York Daily News that he's never "rebelled against his mother's Christian faith," but in another interview he said he "used to be a Christian." In a more recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.com, Martin said, "I'm not agnostic, because I definitely believe in God." But he went on to say he doesn't necessarily believe in a specific religion, and added this bizarre observation: "There's some powers around, whatever they might be. I mean, if there's human beings who can stare at goats and make them die, then there's big forces out there somewhere. You know what I mean?" http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/glimpses/2005/xandy.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 if there's human beings who can stare at goats and make them die, then there's big forces out there somewhere LOL....Why Chris has always to be so funny? He's one of the funniest guy on earth and I think that's a fact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricardo Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 yeah, I think that it is about Jesus too, but I hear "Saint peter won't call my name" referring to the fact that Saint Peter denied him 3 times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"*"*Claire*"*" Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 No I don't think they are catholic they are just religious, I suppose.. howewer thank you for the interpretation :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene_Ihnfsa Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 i think you are right that is about jesus christ, but you are judging it wrongly the escapist... the correct is to say that is a a Christian one, you obviously say that is a catholic one because you have been grown as a catholic, am i right? the religious differences are not that distant imo, but the correct is to say christian and more that the song is speaking about jesus christ. and i like that they do it, if the album is about rebelion an social movements, out of being or not a christian or a believer, just taking into account jesus from nazaret as a human being, he was a revolutionary man, that's why he was accused and sentenced, romans feared his powers, his human powers of make many people follow and do what he thinks. recently i've been thinking that the heroe for any social movement, the first one should be Jesus of Nazaret, no matter of the religious side, i think he would had been an interesting person to meet just for this rebel thing he did. i'm glad that at least a band recognize it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FedEx Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Biblical References do not equal being deluded/religious (synonymous). They are populist ways of getting across a point. In 'Viva La Vida' the point is that power and control corrupts. You hit the nail on the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
participlesnake Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 The song seems to me to be about the Roman conquest of Jerusalem more than anything. Perhaps Chris is writing the song from the perspective of a Roman emperor during this time period. Also, I think the song could also be alluding heavily to the Crusades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene_Ihnfsa Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 The song seems to me to be about the Roman conquest of Jerusalem more than anything. Perhaps Chris is writing the song from the perspective of a Roman emperor during this time period. Also, I think the song could also be alluding heavily to the Crusades. you are also right... i think that 3 interpretations can be correct, them all are related in some way... jesus christ was in times of Roman Empire, and later his movement, did the crusades, so anyways the connection is Jesus Christ, as the beging and the end... before him was the roman empire, after him were the crusades :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 how do you get to the name "Viva La Vida" from all these meanings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybeeburns Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I know St. Peter will call my name, referring to the fact of being admitted to heaven!Correct lyric is I know St Peter won’t call my name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I'm still adamant he says "will call my name". Why would you not be able to explain non-admission to Heaven, after not speaking an honest word? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybeeburns Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Don't quote me, quote EMI's official lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricardo Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 now, the line of the revolutinoaries makes me doubt that it is about Jesus, because jesus was the one who wanted the change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotplay007 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 All that you said was IMO very true. Catholic? Well maybe. But more on the religious side I guess. I'm Christian and we talk about much of that so I guess not totally Catholic. GREAT reinterpretation. :Thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tampacoldplayer Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 he says won't call my name...i think it is about how one minute you are riding high and the next you are the lowest of low... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVI56 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 i think it is about how one minute you are riding high and the next you are the lowest of low... I agree, riding high then falling low. The religious references might be part of trying to cope with failing, many people will turn to religion when things go bad. But as Chris said with Violet Hill, it could mean whatever you want it to mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romy_arg Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Wiki doesn't say, but it does say that Chris studied Ancient Worlds, and Will studied Anthropology. Once i read that Chris comes from a religious family.. is that true? cause maybe he has a lot of influence from religion.. I like the lyric and i think it has an intertextual relation with the Bible the first time I read the lyric, the part hat says "Seas would rise when I gave the word" I inmediatly thought about Moses and the jewish people coming out form the desert. how do you get to the name "Viva La Vida" from all these meanings? It doesn't exactly say "Viva la Vida" in the spanish meaning.. cause the song says "Now the old king is dead, Long live the king" Long Live the king = Larga Vida al Rey Long Live the king (almost like) Viva la Vida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winigwl Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 i just htink its about a tragic downfall of a leader, kinda reminds me of macbeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishSilk Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 From what I heard, Chris & family celebrate CHRISTMAS, (Church of England), as well as Hannahkuh, paying homage to Gwyneths families religious roots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now