I used to rule the world… Ay yiusd tu ruul de wuorl’
Seas would rise when I gave the word… Siis wuud raiz wuen ay gueiv de wuord
Now in the morning I sleep alone… Nau in de mornin’ Ay eslip aloun
Sweep the streets I used to own…Suip de estriits ay yius’ tu oun

I used to roll the dice… Ay yiusd tu rool de daiz
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes… Fiil de fier in may enemis aays
Listen as the crowd would sing,… Lisen as de craud wuud sin’
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”… “Nau de ol’ kin’ is ded! Lon’ liv de kin’!”
One minute I held the key… Wuan minat ay jeel’ de kyy
Next the walls were closed on me… Necst de wuols wuer clous’ on mi
And I discovered that my castles stand… An’ ay discover’ dat may casels estan’
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand… Apon pilars of solt an’ pilars of seand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing… Ay ji-er Yerusalem bels ar ringuin’
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing… Rouman Cavalrry koars ar singuin’
Be my mirror, my sword and shield… Bi may mirror, may suord an’ shiield
My missionaries in a foreign field… Ma’ mishoneerris in a forei’n fii’ld

For some reason I can’t explain… For som riison ay kan’ explein
Once you go there was never… Wuanz yiu go deer wuas never
Never an honest word… Neve’ an onest wuor’

And that was when I ruled the world… An’ dat wuas wuenaa’ ruul’ de wuorl’

It was the wicked and wild wind… It wuas de wuiked an’ wuaa-il’ wuind
Blew down the doors to let me in… Bluu daun de doors tu let mi in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums… Sharer’ wuindous an’ de saund of dshrams

People couldn’t believe what I’d become… Pipol cudent biiliv wuat ayd bikom

Revolutionaries wait… Revolushonerriis wueit

For my head on a silver plate… For may jeed on a silver pleit

Just a puppet on a lonely string… Yos-ta papet on a lounly estrin’
Oh, who would ever wanna be king?… Oh, juu wuud ever wuana bi kin’?

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name… Ay nou Sein’ Pirer wuont col may neim
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world…. Bot dat wuas wuen ay ruul’ de wuorld

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

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

Writer(s): Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, William Champion, Jonathan Mark Buckland
Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Mgb Ltd.