World history is rife with stories of autocrats and their families flaunting their obscene wealth while their people starved. One need only think of Marie (“Let them eat cake”) Antoinette as a prime example. And we know how she and hubby Louis XVI ended up:

. . . not to mention the later Russian Revolution:

So it struck me as particularly idiotic when I read that Ivanka Trump — in addition to trying to commandeer an Albanian island for yet another posh Trump resort — had posted videos of her daughter Arabella riding horseback on a beach during a luxury family vacation while millions of Americans are struggling to afford gas for their cars and food for their tables.

But the thoughtless, in-your-face flaunting of the Trump billions came as no surprise, and I was about to pass over the article when I read that the video included background music: Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” And the author of the article pointed out that the clueless Ivanka clearly had no idea of the substance of the song’s lyrics when she chose it.

So of course I read those lyrics, and I laughed so hard I nearly choked. Because the words seemed to be nothing less than a forecast of the future — not only Ivanka’s, but that of the entire Trump clan when the “Flying Fickle Finger of Fate” finally points at them.

I would like to share those lyrics with you now . . . somewhat selfishly, I admit, because it’s more fun to have someone to laugh with. So please join me.

Viva La Vida *

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the mornin’, 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 were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin’
Roman cavalry choirs are singin’
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
And that was when I ruled the world

It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
And revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin’
Roman cavalry choirs are singin’
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

* Viva la Vida lyrics copyright Audiam, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI)

All I can say is that, obviously, all the money in the world can’t fix stupid.

Thanks for joining me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/10/26