Viva la Vida Lyrics

Can you fill in the missing lyrics to the song "Vida la Vida" by Coldplay?

Quiz by

Featured Quiz

Rate:

Last updated: February 25, 2026

You have not attempted this quiz yet.

More quiz info >>

First submitted	October 15, 2012
Times taken	49,585
Average score	66.7%
Rating	4.37

Quiz and answer stats >>

Friends stats >>

4:00

Enter answer here

/ 30 guessed

The quiz is paused. You have remaining.

Copied!

Scoring

You scored / = %

This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%

The average score is

Your high score is

Your fastest time is

more stats >>

friends stats >>

Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...

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 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

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

I'm just a puppet on a lonely string

Oh who would ever want to be king?

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 Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest word

And that was when I ruled the world

Save Your Stats

Your Next Quiz

Name Every Beatles Song

The Beatles recorded 210 different songs over the course of their storied career. How many can you name?

World Map Without 20 Random Countries

20 random countries have been removed from the map of the world! Can you identify them in 3 minutes?

Beatles Songs by Synonyms

Guess these Beatles song titles, where most of the words have been replaced by synonyms.

Click the Queen Song Title Ending

Can you find the endings of these famous songs recorded by the British rock band Queen?

39 Comments

+33

Level 59

Oct 14, 2013

One of the best songs :)

+20

Level 63

Mar 21, 2014

2:15 left. Took me forever to figure out that it was "castles" not "castle".

Level 46

Oct 20, 2015

same here

Level 51

Aug 30, 2025

same

Level 59

Mar 28, 2015

How do you do fill in the blank?

Level 67

Oct 26, 2021

you type the answer

Level ∞

Feb 25, 2026

11 years later, but you put the {missing} {words} in brackets.

Level 26

Apr 28, 2015

100 % :D

+12

Level 19

Nov 27, 2015

I would just like to say that the last line of the first chorus is incorrect, it says on here its "once you go" yet on every other lyrics site for this song its "Once you'd go". So could you please change this so its correct. Thank you.

Level ∞

Feb 25, 2026

11 years later, this has finally been fixed.

+25

Level 19

Nov 27, 2015

Sorry "once you'd gone". Its supposed to be Once you'd gone.

Level 42

Jan 31, 2017

Level 62

Oct 1, 2017

I am not sure which lyric sites you are referring to. Several sites have the line just as it is on the quiz as, "once you go."

Level 95

May 15, 2023

https://www.coldplay.com/song/viva-la-vida/ (ostensibly the official website of the band) says "once you'd gone"

Level 44

Feb 18, 2024

exactly

Level 22

Dec 8, 2015

I got them all right.. O_O

Level 11

May 9, 2016

I got 26/30 and I only listened to the song once.

Level 32

Jan 16, 2017

Can't be the only one singing this as I did it

Level 88

Apr 15, 2017

Ha! Nope, not the only one.

Level 16

May 26, 2025

Yeah me too lol

Level 17

Jul 19, 2017

Gone not go but other than that 👌🏻

Level 46

Mar 15, 2019

I thought this was the lyrics to "Livin' La Vida Loca".

Leaving disappointed.

Level 68

Jul 31, 2024

Took me a second to wonder if Coldplay had somehow covered a Ricky Martin song and I was just completely oblivious to an odd piece of pop culture

Level 43

Nov 29, 2020

Not me thinking for all these years it was 'Caesar would rise when I gave the word' 🤦😂

Level 52

Mar 2, 2026

Where

Level 66

Mar 19, 2022

Love the song, thanks for the quiz!

Level 56

May 29, 2022

Great song. Got stuck cause I thought it's "once you'd gone" but I eventually figured it out

Level 21

Aug 24, 2022

Dealthy Bro I did it for the whole song XD

People at the top.

HOW DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE LYRICS TO SAY "Once you'd gone there was never' THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AT ALL. So I agree with people who think it is once you go like in the real song!

Level 16

May 26, 2025

Uh, no? Once you'd gone makes more sense. 'Once you had gone, there was never' 'Once you go, there was never' Once you go gives you two separate tenses (I thought it was once you were gone but at least the tense is right) maybe don't correct people when you're wrong because if you search it they are right and the lyrics say 'once you'd gone'.

+12

Level 67

Sep 4, 2022

was hoping to see a captainsparklez "Fallen Kingdom" comment. such a good song and a good memory

Level 68

Feb 29, 2024

I was too, but I was successful thanks to you :)

Level 37

Oct 4, 2023

Once you'd gone**

Level 46

Jun 24, 2024

I agree

Level 86

Apr 5, 2025

Used to think the first line was:

I used to rule the world

Caeser would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning, I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to Roam (Rome).

I thought it was a very clever line and now I can't believe I misheard it so badly

Level 67

Feb 27, 2026

for many years I thought it was 'Roman Catholic choirs are singing' 😬

Level 47

Feb 27, 2026

viva la vida visca barcelona '26 ucl

Level 43

Feb 27, 2026

🔥🔥

Level 21

Feb 28, 2026

just a small mistake but im pretty sure its "who would even wanna be king" instead of "want to"

Level 60

Mar 2, 2026

Apropo for Feb 28th 2026