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V
GUITAR CHORDS

Viva La Vida

Coldplay
Pop essentials 90s & 2000s
KeyAb
Capo1
LevelEasy
Transpose Ab 0
Text
Chord sheet
Chords are positioned above the lyric change point

Intro

CDadd11GEm x2
 
 

Verse 1

CDadd11
I used to rule the world
GEm
Seas would rise when I gave the word
CDadd11
Now in the morning I sleep alone
GEm
Sweep the streets I used to own
 
 

Interlude

CDadd11GEm x2
 
 

Verse 2

CDadd11
I used to roll the dice
GEm
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
CDadd11
Listen as the crowd would sing:
GEm
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
CDadd11
One minute I held the key
GEm
Next the walls were closed on me
CDadd11
And I discovered that my castles stand
GEm
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
 
 

Chorus

CDadd11
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
GEm
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
CDadd11
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
GEm
My missionaries in a foreign field
CDadd11
For some reason I can't explain
GEm
Once you'd gone there was never
CDadd11
Never an honest word
BmEm
And that was when I ruled the world
 
 

Interlude

CDadd11GEm x2
 
 

Verse 3

CDadd11
It was the wicked and wild wind
GEm
Blew down the doors to let me in
CDadd11
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
GEm
People couldn't believe what I'd become
CDadd11
Revolutionaries wait
GEm
For my head on a silver plate
CDadd11
Just a puppet on a lonely string
GEm
Oh, who would ever want to be king?
 
 

Chorus

CDadd11
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
GEm
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
CDadd11
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
GEm
My missionaries in a foreign field
CDadd11
For some reason I can't explain
GEm
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
CDadd11
Never an honest word
BmEm
But that was when I ruled the world
 
 

Interlude

CEm x3
Dadd11Dadd11
 
CDadd11GEm
Ohhhhhh Ohhhhhh
CDadd11GEm
Ohhhhhh Ohhhhhh
 
 

Chorus

CDadd11
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
GEm
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
CDadd11
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
GEm
My missionaries in a foreign field
CDadd11
For some reason I can't explain
GEm
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
CDadd11
Never an honest word
BmEm
But that was when I ruled the world
 
 

Outro

CDadd11BmEm
Oooooh Ooooooh
CDadd11BmEm
Oooooh Ooooooh
End

How to play Viva La Vida chords

This Chordsurf arrangement of Viva La Vida by Coldplay is presented in the key of Ab, with a capo at the 1st fret. Use the transpose controls above the sheet to move every chord together while keeping the lyric-change positions aligned.

The page is set up for practice as well as quick reference: adjust the text size, use auto scroll when your hands are busy, or switch to focus mode for a cleaner playing view. The published arrangement uses 5 distinct chord shapes, including C, Dadd11, G, Em, Bm. You can also explore related material through Pop essentials, 90s & 2000s.