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 go 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 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 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
but that was when i ruled the world