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

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 song, pillars of sand

i hear jerusalem’s bell’s ringing

roman cavalry choirs are singing

be my mirror my sword and shield

my missionaries in a foreign field

for some reason i can not explain

once you know there was never, never an honest word

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 could not 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’s bell’s ringing

roman cavalry choirs are singing

be my mirror my sword and shield

my missionaries in a foreign field

for some reason i can not explain

i know saint peter will call my name

never an honest word

but that was when i ruled the world

(ohhhhh ohhh ohhh)

hear jerusalem’s bell’s ringing

roman cavalry choirs are singing

be my mirror my sword and shield

my missionaries in a foreign field

for some reason i can not explain

i know saint peter will call my name

never an honest word

but that was when i ruled the world