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 enemies' 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
Brown sugar to cover the blood on your hands
A martyr and a trapeze star, a prophet and a butcher too
One minute he's cleaning up the town, next he's burning it down
He knows his way around here
All the dirty little secrets come out here:
Viva la vida!
He said it's all for you, your body and your crew
"But don't forget to pay your rent on the first of the month!"
He's just the messenger and don't forget to tip your hat
There he goes there he goes again
All across the floor in time to the beat
And on, and on his way, he goes his way, he's on
You could hear a heart a-beating
As they lay there next to you
And if there is a god above that looks upon us below?
I'm just a little black shadow 'til he shows again
Brown sugar to cover the blood on your hands
A martyr and a trapeze star, a prophet and a butcher too
One minute he's cleaning up the town, next he's burning it down
All in all is all we are