[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
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
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 2: Chris Martin]
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies' 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: Chris Martin]
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringin'
Roman cavalry choirs are singin'
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
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 3: Chris Martin]
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 (Mmm, mmm)
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?
[Chorus: Chris Martin]
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringin'
Roman cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
[Bridge: Brian Eno, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland & Will Champion]
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
[Chorus: Chris Martin, Brian Eno, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland & Will Champion]
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh)
Hear Jerusalem bells are ringin'
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh)
Roman cavalry choirs are singin'
(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 Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
[Outro]
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm
[Intro]
C D G Em x2
[Verse 1]
C D
I used to rule the world
G Em
Seas would rise when I gave the word
C D
Now in the morning I sleep alone
G Em
Sweep the streets I used to own
[Interlude]
C D G Em x2
[Verse 2]
C D
I used to roll the dice
G Em
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
C D
Listen as the crowd would sing:
G Em
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
C D
One minute I held the key
G Em
Next the walls were closed on me
C D
And I discovered that my castles stand
G Em
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
[Chorus]
C D
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
G Em
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
C D
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
G Em
My missionaries in a foreign field
C D
For some reason I can't explain
G Em C D
Once you'd gone there was never, never an honest word
Bm Em
That was when I ruled the world
[Interlude]
C D G Em x2
[Verse 3]
C D
It was the wicked and wild wind
G Em
Blew down the doors to let me in
C D
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
G Em
People couldn't believe what I'd become
C D
Revolutionaries wait
G Em
For my head on a silver plate
C D
Just a puppet on a lonely string
G Em
Oh, who would ever want to be king?
[Chorus]
C D
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
G Em
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
C D
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
G Em
My missionaries in a foreign field
C D
For some reason I can't explain
G Em
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
C D
Never an honest word
Bm Em
But that was when I ruled the world
[Interlude]
C Em x3
D D
C D G Em
Ohhhhhh Ohhhhhhh
C D G Em
Ohhhhhh Ohhhhhhh
[Chorus]
C D
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
G Em
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
C D
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
G Em
My missionaries in a foreign field
C D
For some reason I can't explain
G Em
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
C D
Never an honest word
Bm Em
But that was when I ruled the world
[Outro]
C D Bm Em
Oooooh Ooooooh
C D Bm Em
Oooooh Ooooooh