‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears from their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). It was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes and produced by Hughes. It was released on 22 March 1985 by Phonogram, Mercury, and Vertigo Records as the third single from the album. ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ is a new wave and synth-pop song with lyrics that detail the desire humans have for control and power and centre on themes of corruption.
An international success, the song peaked at number two in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom and at number one in Canada, New Zealand, and on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox. It was certified gold by both Music Canada (MC) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley and Chris Hughes, and produced by Hughes. The song was a "last-minute" addition during recording sessions of Songs from the Big Chair (1985). The decision to include the song in the album came after Orzabal played two chords on his acoustic guitar for Hughes. In an interview with Mix magazine, Hughes said the themes were "quite serious – it's about everybody wanting power, about warfare and the misery it causes." The band had trouble getting into the original incarnation of the song, which featured the lyric "everybody wants to go to war." When it was changed to the title phrase, everything clicked. "Once we got those lyrics, it was a joyful song," Orzabal explained.
In 1986, the song won "Best Single" at the Brit Awards. This was the first US #1 hit for Tears for Fears. "Shout" went to #1 two months later. n 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 319 in their updated list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Labels – Phonogram, Mercury, Vertigo
Songwriters – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes
Producer – Chris Hughes
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you
[Chorus]
Acting on your best behaviour
Turn your back on Mother Nature
Everybody wants to rule the world
[Verse 2]
It's my own design
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the
[Chorus]
Most of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
[Bridge]
There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do, I'll be right behind you
[Chorus]
So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the—
Say that you'll never, never, never, never need it
One headline, why believe it?
Everybody wants to rule the world
All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world