How the mighty have fallen
How the mighty have fallen
Tropedia
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
This person once had it all. They were wealthy and powerful, sycophants hung on their every word, and it seemed like the world was their oyster. Then they fell, hard. Now their empire has crumbled, their money is gone, and they are scorned by the people who once admired them; there’s nothing left for them to do but long for the Glory Days.
Other characters may shake their heads in pity and comment, «How the mighty have fallen.»
Someone powerful and prideful who suffers a Humiliation Conga or Break the Haughty can have this fate waiting for them at the end. However, it can just easily happen offscreen, or to someone who wasn’t excessively prideful.
Depending on how sympathetic the character is, this can be played for comedy, tragedy, or karmic justice. It may even prove to be a Happy Ending; he avoids Lonely At the Top for true friendship and true love.
The Fallen Princess copes with it; the Princess in Rags pretends it hasn’t happened. Look on My Works Ye Mighty and Despair is when it happens to a civilization, or Vestigial Empire when it happens to a nation state.
Contents
Anime & Manga
Comic Books
«On Earth, two hundred years ago, I was a prince with power over millions. «
Literature
«My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!»
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away
Yesterday, I was perhaps the most powerful ruler in the entire world, able to summon kings and queens and have them answer; today, I must hope I can find a farm where I will be allowed to sleep in the barn. Whatever crimes you think I have committed, isn’t this punishment enough?
Live Action TV
And now the Peacock’s getting it from both ends.
Music
Once upon a time you dressed so fine,
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”
You thought they were all kiddin’ you.
Now you don’t talk so loud,
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
He used to be the life and soul of everyone around.
You’d never catch him looking up and never see him down but oh, la laa.
He couldn’t raise a smile oh, not for a while, and he’s a failure now.
«Fortune rota volvitur;
alter in altum tollitur;
rex sedet in vertice
nam sub axe legimus
(English translation: «The wheel of Fortune turns/I go down, demeaned/another is carried to the top;/far too high/the king sits at the summit/let him fear ruin/for under the axis is written/Queen Hecuba.»)
Professional Wrestling
Tabletop Games
Nicol Bolas: We were gods, once.
Theater
«Men of Thebes, look upon Oedipus
the king who solved the famous riddle
and towered up, most powerful of men.
No mortal eye but looked on him with envy,
yet in the end ruin swept over him.»
Video Games
Western Animation
«How quickly things change for the cats. From top predator, to endangered species. in a single day!»
How The Mighty Have Fallen Poem by Ayandare Mayowa
Ayandare Mayowa
How The Mighty Have Fallen
How the mighty have fallen,
Names which yesterday people were calling,
To which some were kneeling,
Everybody beckoning,
Their achievements and testimony, the news telling,
Them now, we are mourning.
How the mighty have fallen,
By their hands, foes were trembling,
Their expressions, frightening,
Their feat, so much, humbling,
Their confidence intimidating,
Now there, their body lying.
How the mighty have fallen,
Yesterday, their music, people were dancing,
Them to touch, many struggling,
Every of their record, we were buying,
Now their harp, no more playing,
To their performance, no more shouting,
How the mighty have fallen,
From their path, people were running,
Every of their action, simply cunning,
Under them, men constantly toiling,
And to show for their sweat, nothing,
Now their body gradually rottens,
Them now, God will be judging.
How the mighty have fallen,
The nation’s money, they were claiming,
Any opposition, killing,
On fine wine and fatted calf, they were dinning,
Now by their flesh, the farms will be yielding,
At their death, people were dancing.
One to ten, I am counting,
When will man be free of vain hunting?
Always seeking to get extra something,
In our quest, we sacrifice God, virtues, friends, all things,
Forgetting life is vanity, nothing,
How the Mighty have fallen.
How the Mighty Have Fallen
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
Other characters may shake their heads in pity and comment, «How the mighty have fallen.»
Someone powerful and prideful who suffers a Humiliation Conga or Break the Haughty can have this fate waiting for them at the end. However, it can just easily happen offscreen, or to someone who wasn’t excessively prideful.
Depending on how sympathetic the character is, this can be played for comedy, tragedy, or karmic justice. It may even prove to be a Happy Ending; he avoids Lonely At the Top for true friendship and true love.
The Fallen Princess copes with it; the Princess in Rags pretends it hasn’t happened. Look on My Works Ye Mighty and Despair is when it happens to a civilization, or Vestigial Empire when it happens to a nation state.
Contents
Anime & Manga
Comic Books
«On Earth, two hundred years ago, I was a prince with power over millions. «
Literature
«My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!»
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away
Yesterday, I was perhaps the most powerful ruler in the entire world, able to summon kings and queens and have them answer; today, I must hope I can find a farm where I will be allowed to sleep in the barn. Whatever crimes you think I have committed, isn’t this punishment enough?
Live Action TV
And now the Peacock’s getting it from both ends.
Music
Once upon a time you dressed so fine,
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”
You thought they were all kiddin’ you.
Now you don’t talk so loud,
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
He used to be the life and soul of everyone around.
You’d never catch him looking up and never see him down but oh, la laa.
He couldn’t raise a smile oh, not for a while, and he’s a failure now.
«Fortune rota volvitur;
alter in altum tollitur;
rex sedet in vertice
nam sub axe legimus
(English translation: «The wheel of Fortune turns/I go down, demeaned/another is carried to the top;/far too high/the king sits at the summit/let him fear ruin/for under the axis is written/Queen Hecuba.»)
Professional Wrestling
Tabletop Games
Nicol Bolas: We were gods, once.
Theater
«Men of Thebes, look upon Oedipus
the king who solved the famous riddle
and towered up, most powerful of men.
No mortal eye but looked on him with envy,
yet in the end ruin swept over him.»
Video Games
Western Animation
«How quickly things change for the cats. From top predator, to endangered species. in a single day!»
«Oh, How The Mighty Have Fallen» lyrics
Alesana Lyrics
«Oh, How The Mighty Have Fallen»
I’m having trouble breathing
And if I don’t think fast I’m likely to find myself here for good
Panic sets in as I start to question
Why I see you standing there beyond the glass
Who said that we never would touch the speed of light?
So far behind me, understanding
Stars become rivers flowing backwards, oh yea!
When did my heartbeat start to echo?
Why are my thoughts now fading, drifting, yea!
Twisting, yea! tearing, yea! bleeding, yea!
Excuse me, are you a maniac?
I am and I’m okay with that
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything
An endless maze, a mobiГјs labyrinth
Redemption, exodus, where have you gone!
And yet your gaze will not cease to burn into me!
So far removed, so mockingly you observe
Pariah, hypocrite! I will be free!
And yet you will remain
Excuse me, are you a maniac?
I am and I’m okay with that
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything, goodbye my everything
No
Futile screams go unheard
Incarcerated by so many walls
No
Imprisoned and banished within a nexus of my own design
Don’t go back, don’t leave me
Hide from the world, let’s not exist
Please God kill me
Time is mocking me and now I’m fighting gravity, yea
I’m destroying me, colliding worlds will set you free
Time is mocking me and now I’m fighting gravity, yea
I’m destroying me, colliding worlds will set you free
A straight line is not the shortest distance between two points!
I know that now! But I’m afraid it might be too late!
Will we come back from this?
Hold my hand, I’m blind!
Show me how, I’m lost!
My God it’s beautiful
The portal opens, time is slowing, no turning back now, ‘Bel
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything, goodbye my everything
No
Futile screams go unheard
Incarcerated by so many walls
No
Imprisoned and banished within a nexus of my own design
Перевод песни Oh, how the mighty have fallen (Alesana)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen
О, как великие могли пасть
I’m having trouble breathing
And if I don’t think fast
I’m likely to find myself here for good
Panic sets in as I start to question
Why I see you standing there beyond the glass
Who said that we never
Would touch the speed of light?
So far behind me, understanding
Stars become rivers flowing backwards, oh yea!
When did my heartbeat start to echo?
Why are my thoughts now fading, drifting, yea!
Twisting, yea! tearing, yea! bleeding, yea!
Excuse me, are you a maniac?
I am and I’m okay with that
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything
An endless maze, a mobiüs labyrinth
Redemption, exodus, where have you gone!
And yet your gaze will not cease to burn into me!
So far removed, so mockingly you observe
Pariah, hypocrite! I will be free!
And yet you will remain
Excuse me, are you a maniac?
I am and I’m okay with that
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything, goodbye my everything
No
Futile screams go unheard
Incarcerated by so many walls
No
Imprisoned and banished within a nexus of my own design
Don’t go back, don’t leave me
Hide from the world, let’s not exist
Please God kill me
Time is mocking me
And now I’m fighting gravity, yea
I’m destroying me, colliding worlds will set you free
Time is mocking me
And now I’m fighting gravity, yea
I’m destroying me, colliding worlds will set you free
A straight line is not
The shortest distance between two points!
I know that now!
But I’m afraid it might be too late!
Will we come back from this?
Hold my hand, I’m blind!
Show me how, I’m lost!
My God it’s beautiful
The portal opens, time is slowing,
No turning back now, ‘Bel
My moon, my stars
One last night, one final kiss
Desire begging me not to go
Goodbye my everything
I’m terrified, I pull you near
Making sure that you are real
Open my eyes, it was all a dream
Goodbye my everything, goodbye my everything
No
Futile screams go unheard
Incarcerated by so many walls
No
Imprisoned and banished within a nexus of my own design
Мне тяжело дышать,
И если я не буду соображать быстро,
То, скорее всего, это не приведёт ни к чему хорошему.
Наступает паника, когда я начинаю задаваться вопросом,
Почему я вижу тебя, стоящую по другую сторону зеркала?
Кто сказал, что мы никогда
Не сможем приблизиться к скорости света?
Понимание далеко позади меня.
Звёзды превратились в реки, текущие в обратном направлении.
Когда биение моего сердца стало отдаваться эхом?
Почему мои мысли угасают! Утекают!
Изворачиваются! Разрываются! Истекают кровью!
Извините, вы не маньяк?
Я – да, и мне это нравится.
Моя луна, мои звёзды.
Последняя ночь, последний поцелуй.
Желание умоляет меня не уходить.
Прощай, моё всё.
В ужасе я притягиваю тебя к себе,
Чтобы убедиться, что всё происходит наяву.
Открываю глаза, и понимаю, что это был сон.
Прощай, моё всё.
Бесконечная путаница, лабиринт Мёбиуса,
Искупление, исход, куда же ты пропала?
И всё же твой взгляд не прекращает прожигать меня насквозь!
Такая далёкая, ты смотришь с издёвкой.
Отверженный, лицемер! Ты будешь свободен!
Но пока ты остаёшься здесь.
Извините, вы не маньяк?
Я – да, и мне это нравится.
Моя луна, мои звёзды.
Последняя ночь, последний поцелуй.
Желание умоляет меня не уходить.
Прощай, моё всё.
В ужасе я притягиваю тебя к себе,
Чтобы убедиться, что всё происходит наяву.
Открываю глаза, и понимаю, что это был сон.
Прощай, моё всё. Прощай, моё всё.
Нет.
Тщетные крики остаются неуслышанными,
Заключенными во множество стен.
Нет.
Лишенный свободы и изгнанный в узах собственного разума.
Время издевается надо мной,
И теперь я сопротивляюсь гравитации.
Я разрушаю себя, столкнувшиеся миры освободят тебя.
Время издевается надо мной,
И теперь я сопротивляюсь гравитации.
Я разрушаю себя, столкнувшиеся миры освободят тебя.
Прямая линия –
Не кратчайшее расстояние между двумя точками,
Теперь я знаю это!
Но, боюсь, уже может быть слишком поздно!
Сможем ли мы вернуться отсюда?
Держи меня за руку, я слеп!
Покажи мне, как, я потерян!
Бог мой, какая красота.
Портал открывается, время замедляется.
Белль, теперь нет пути назад.
Моя луна, мои звёзды.
Последняя ночь, последний поцелуй.
Желание умоляет меня не уходить.
Прощай, моё всё.
В ужасе я притягиваю тебя к себе,
Чтобы убедиться, что всё происходит наяву.
Открываю глаза, и понимаю, что это был сон.
Прощай, моё всё. Прощай, моё всё.
Нет.
Тщетные крики остаются неуслышанными,
Заключенными во множество стен.
Нет.
Лишенный свободы и изгнанный в узах собственного разума.