"Viva La Vida can be compared with several biblical and historical events, but I think there are the most and clearest parallels between Louis the XVI �s beheading and the song. Here are a couple:

- The first verse obviously describes a loss of important, perhaps dictator-like power. Louis the XVI had absolute power over his people at his acceptance to the thrown, but as he began to appoint new cabinets and groups to make decisions, he began to lose his say in any of the happenings of France. Part of the reason he appointed these was Louis was very unsure of himself (he often dealt with depression and feelings of no hope).
- "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" Louis became king when his grandfather, Louis XV, died.
- The third verse (about the "key" and "closed walls") also makes sense because Louis had the key to absolute power at first, but he eventually gave all his power away to advisers and party members, and he realized he really had no power at all. The metaphor of a castle on pillars of salt and pillars of sand reflects his indecisiveness and vulnerability all through his life as king, which ultimately led to many of his mistakes as king.
- The images used in the chorus does correspond with the time period...
- In the fourth verse, the most clear parallel is "sound of drums". Louis XVI attempted to make a speech before he was beheaded, but apparently he was cut off by a drumline.
- The fifth verse fits very well with Louis the XVI. Revolutionaries were usually against Louis; several revolutionaries incited an attack of the Palace of Versailles to kill Louis �s queen. Also, revolutionaries accused Louis of treason, and often used him as a scapegoat for things (which would explain the puppet line.)
- When CP says "St. Peter won �t call my name", obviously that means that the person in the song did not believe he belonged in heaven. Louis usually was depressed and hopeless about being king, which would explain how he thought he wouldn �t even be accepted into heaven."