Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Chris Martin
Piano
Guy Berryman
Bass Guitar
Will Champion
Drums
Jonny Buckland
Electric Guitar
Brian Eno
Sound Effects
François Chevallier
Programming
Davide Rossi
Strings
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Chris Martin
Songwriter
Guy Berryman
Songwriter
Will Champion
Songwriter
Jonny Buckland
Songwriter
Davide Rossi
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Jon Hopkins
Producer
William "Will" Hensley
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Andrew Rugg
Assistant Engineer
Brian Thorn
Assistant Engineer
Daniel Green
Assistant Engineer
Bob Ludwig
Mastering Engineer
Andy Wallace
Mixing Engineer
Markus Dravs
Producer
Michael H. Brauer
Mixing Engineer
Brian Eno
Producer
Rik Simpson
Producer
Olga Fitzroy
Recording Technician
Michael Trepagnier
Recording Technician
Lyrics
[Intro]
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
[Verse 1]
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 and pillars of sand
[Chorus]
I hear Jerusalem bells are 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'd gone, there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
[Verse 2]
It was a 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 want to be king?
[Chorus]
I hear Jerusalem bells are 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
I know St. Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
[Bridge]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
[Outro]
Hear Jerusalem bells are ringing (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Roman cavalry choirs are singing (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my mirror, my sword and shield (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
My missionaries in a foreign field (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
For some reason I can't explain (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
I know St. Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion