Viva La Vida 是西班牙语,是Live the Life 的意思, 来自一位墨西哥艺术家Frida Kahlo给自己的一幅画的命名。

I used to rule the world
我曾主宰世界
Seas would rise when I gave the word
大海也愿为我咆哮
Now in the morning I sweep alone
如今我清晨独眠
Sweep the streets I used to own
在我曾拥有的井巷中彷徨

I used to roll the dice
我经历过孤注一掷
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
感受过敌人眼底的不可终日
Listen as the crowd would sing:
领教过愚民们高喊口号：
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
“先王亡矣！我王永世！”

One minute I held the key
大权刚刚在手
Next the walls were closed on me
城墙即将我禁闭
And I discovered that my castles stand
我这才发现我城堡的基石
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
竟如散沙盐粒般脆弱无力

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
耶路撒冷传来一声钟响
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
罗马骑兵唱诗班正在吟唱
Be my mirror my sword and shield
我的明镜，宝剑与盾牌由你们担当！
My missionaries in a foreign field
我异疆的传教士啊
For some reason I can't explain
其中缘由我不能讲明
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
自你走后，我从未听过只字真言
That was when I ruled the world
那就是我主宰世界的年月

 
It was the wicked and wild wind
凶煞狂风袭来
Blew down the doors to let me in.
冲破重门将我押入
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
狼藉一片，鼓声四起
People couldn't believe what I'd become
我的结局无人能料

 
Revolutionaries wait
革命者期待看到
For my head on a silver plate
我的头颅被摆上银盘
Just a puppet on a lonely string
我不过一个孤家傀儡
Oh who would ever want to be king?
唉，谁愿做王？

(chorus)
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
耶路撒冷传来一声钟响
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
罗马骑兵唱诗班正在吟唱
Be my mirror my sword and shield
我的明镜，宝剑与盾牌由你们担当！
My missionaries in a foreign field
我异疆的传教士啊
For some reason I can't explain
其中缘由我不能讲明
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
我深知圣彼得不会唤我姓名
Never an honest word
从未听过只字真言
But that was when I ruled the world
但那就是我主宰世界的年月
Oooooo ooooo ooooo oooooo ooooo
(repeat with chorus)