[Verse 1: Chris Martin] I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the mornin', I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own [Verse 2: Chris Martin] 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: Chris Martin] I hear Jerusalem bells a-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 [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 a-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 a-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