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 closed down on me And I discovered that my castle would stand Upon pillars of soul and pillars of sand 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 Once you'd gone there was never, never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing For some reason I can't explain Once you'd gone there was never, never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world