从歌词中可看出，这首歌写的人物是路易十六，其背景是法国大革命前后。“Revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate”这句歌词可以明显看出，还有一句形容法国大革命的那股革命风暴的就是“It was a wicked and wild wind”。该段最后一句“Oh who would ever want to be king?”，算得上是对路易十六的同情吧。
I used to rule the world 大千世界曾由我主宰
Seas would rise when I gave the word 巨浪也曾因我之命澎湃
Now in the morning I sleep alone 而今我却在黎明独自入眠
Sweep the streets I used to own 在曾属于我的大道落寞徘徊
I used to roll the dice 凡人生死曾由我主宰
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes 尽情品味惊恐在死敌瞳孔绽开
Listen as the crowd would sing: 欣然倾听百姓高歌喝彩：
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" “先王亡矣！新王万代！”
One minute I held the key 此刻我手握权位经脉
Next the walls were closed on me 转瞬才知宫墙深似海
And I discovered that my castles stand 恍然发现我的城池
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand 基底散如盐沙乱似尘埃
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing 听那耶路撒冷钟声传来
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing 罗马骑兵歌声震彻山海
Be my mirror my sword and shield 担当我的明镜，利剑和盾牌
My missionaries in a foreign field 我的传教士屹立边疆之外
For some reason I can't explain 只因一些缘由我无法释怀
Once you go there was never, 一旦你离开这里便不再，
never an honest word 不再有逆耳忠言存在
That was when I ruled the world 而这便是我统治的时代
It was the wicked and wild wind 凛冽邪风呼啸袭来
Blew down the doors to let me in 吹散重门使我深陷阴霾
Shattered windows and the sound of drums 断壁残垣礼崩乐坏
People couldn't believe what I'd become 世人不敢相信我已当年不再
Revolutionaries wait 起义大军翘首期待
For my head on a silver plate 有朝一日我站上断头台
Just a puppet on a lonely string 恰如傀儡随吊线寂寞摇摆
Oh who would ever want to be king? 悲哉，谁又曾渴望万人膜拜？
It was the wicked and wild wind 凛冽邪风呼啸袭来
Blew down the doors to let me in 吹散重门使我深陷阴霾
Shattered windows and the sound of drums 断壁残垣礼崩乐坏
People couldn't believe what I'd become 世人不敢相信我已当年不再
For some reason I can't explain 只因一些缘由我无法释怀
I know Saint Peter won't call my name 我亦知天堂之门不会为我敞开
Never an honest word 不再有逆耳忠言存在
But that was when I ruled the world 但这却是我统治的时代
