"Viva la Vida," an inspiring song by the band Coldplay sings of a fallen king. The song is here:



The lyrics are the voice of a king regretfully looking back at what he had as a kingdom's ruler, grieving the past now long gone. The song was possibly originally written to metaphorically portray an average person looking back on their life's "golden age" of prosperity and favor. However, in taking the words literally, they can be tied in to the play, The Sultan's Dilemma, by comparing the lyrics to the sultan. "I used to rule the world," begins the song. The sultan had all the power and glory a king could want over Persia. But because of his past as a slave never legally set free, he was forced to be auctioned off by his own people. He had to step down to earn his spot at the top of the world again - " Sweep the streets I used to own." "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;" this point in the lyrics parallels with his loathing of the inevitable rumors and confusion that fly among his people as he became a disgraced spectacle before them all.

"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," bemoan the lyrics that parallel to his discovery of his enslaved status. He was king and all the world was good, until he discovered he wasn't who he believed he was, his reality shaken because it stood on false assumptions rather than solid fact.

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

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

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 go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

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 want to be king?

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
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

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
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world