Description
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is a new wave and pop rock song from the duo’s second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair. It was released in March 1985 through Phonogram and Mercury Records as the album’s third single. The song was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes, and produced by Chris Hughes.
Musically, the track combines polished 1980s pop production with a rhythmic guitar-driven arrangement. Its main elements include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, programmed percussion, and layered vocals. One of the most recognizable parts of the song is its bright, chiming guitar figure, which gives the track an unusually relaxed and open sound despite the darker themes in the lyrics.
The recording features Curt Smith on lead vocals and bass guitar, while Roland Orzabal contributes guitar and backing vocals. Ian Stanley adds keyboards, and Manny Elias plays drums. The arrangement also includes additional guitar work that helps create the song’s shimmering, spacious character, with synth textures supporting rather than dominating the mix.
The song is written in D major and uses a distinctive 12/8 shuffle feel, which gives it a rolling, almost effortless groove. That rhythmic feel is one of the reasons the track stands apart from more rigid synth-pop songs of the same era. Its smooth pulse makes the song sound optimistic on the surface even though its subject matter is much more serious.
Lyrically, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” deals with power, ambition, control, corruption, and the desire for domination. The lyrics suggest that the urge to control others is universal and destructive, touching on political power, social pressure, and the way people compete for influence. The song’s pleasant melody creates a deliberate contrast with those darker ideas.
One curiosity about the song is that its title was originally “Everybody Wants to Go to War.” The writers later changed the phrase to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” which gave the song a broader and more memorable meaning. The final version moved away from one specific subject and became a more general reflection on power and human behavior.
Another interesting detail is that the song came together relatively late in the making of Songs from the Big Chair. Roland Orzabal initially considered it too lightweight compared with the rest of the album, but producer Chris Hughes encouraged the group to develop it further. The resulting track became one of Tears for Fears’ biggest hits.
The song achieved major international success. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and also topped charts in Canada and other markets. In the United Kingdom, it reached the Top 5, helping establish Tears for Fears as one of the biggest British pop acts of the mid-1980s.
The music video, directed by Nigel Dick, features Curt Smith driving through the United States, including scenes shot in California and the desert. The open-road imagery matches the song’s spacious sound and helped reinforce its popularity during the MTV era.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” won Best Single at the 1986 Brit Awards and became one of the defining songs of Tears for Fears’ career. It has since been covered and reinterpreted by many artists, including Lorde, whose darker version appeared on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The song’s long-term appeal comes from the contrast between its bright, elegant arrangement and its uneasy message about power and control. Its smooth rhythm, memorable guitar textures, strong vocal performance, and universal theme have helped it remain one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1980s.
Lyrics
Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you
Acting on your best behavior
Turn your back on Mother Nature
Everybody wants to rule the world
It's my own design
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the most of
Freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
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
So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world
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
Youtube video
Songs links
Specification
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is a new wave and pop rock song from the duo’s second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair. It was released in March 1985 through Phonogram and Mercury Records as the album’s third single. The song was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes, and produced by Chris Hughes.
Musically, the track combines polished 1980s pop production with a rhythmic guitar-driven arrangement. Its main elements include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, programmed percussion, and layered vocals. One of the most recognizable parts of the song is its bright, chiming guitar figure, which gives the track an unusually relaxed and open sound despite the darker themes in the lyrics.
The recording features Curt Smith on lead vocals and bass guitar, while Roland Orzabal contributes guitar and backing vocals. Ian Stanley adds keyboards, and Manny Elias plays drums. The arrangement also includes additional guitar work that helps create the song’s shimmering, spacious character, with synth textures supporting rather than dominating the mix.
The song is written in D major and uses a distinctive 12/8 shuffle feel, which gives it a rolling, almost effortless groove. That rhythmic feel is one of the reasons the track stands apart from more rigid synth-pop songs of the same era. Its smooth pulse makes the song sound optimistic on the surface even though its subject matter is much more serious.
Lyrically, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” deals with power, ambition, control, corruption, and the desire for domination. The lyrics suggest that the urge to control others is universal and destructive, touching on political power, social pressure, and the way people compete for influence. The song’s pleasant melody creates a deliberate contrast with those darker ideas.
One curiosity about the song is that its title was originally “Everybody Wants to Go to War.” The writers later changed the phrase to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” which gave the song a broader and more memorable meaning. The final version moved away from one specific subject and became a more general reflection on power and human behavior.
Another interesting detail is that the song came together relatively late in the making of Songs from the Big Chair. Roland Orzabal initially considered it too lightweight compared with the rest of the album, but producer Chris Hughes encouraged the group to develop it further. The resulting track became one of Tears for Fears’ biggest hits.
The song achieved major international success. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and also topped charts in Canada and other markets. In the United Kingdom, it reached the Top 5, helping establish Tears for Fears as one of the biggest British pop acts of the mid-1980s.
The music video, directed by Nigel Dick, features Curt Smith driving through the United States, including scenes shot in California and the desert. The open-road imagery matches the song’s spacious sound and helped reinforce its popularity during the MTV era.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” won Best Single at the 1986 Brit Awards and became one of the defining songs of Tears for Fears’ career. It has since been covered and reinterpreted by many artists, including Lorde, whose darker version appeared on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The song’s long-term appeal comes from the contrast between its bright, elegant arrangement and its uneasy message about power and control. Its smooth rhythm, memorable guitar textures, strong vocal performance, and universal theme have helped it remain one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1980s.
Specification
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is a new wave and pop rock song from the duo’s second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair. It was released in March 1985 through Phonogram and Mercury Records as the album’s third single. The song was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes, and produced by Chris Hughes.
Musically, the track combines polished 1980s pop production with a rhythmic guitar-driven arrangement. Its main elements include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, programmed percussion, and layered vocals. One of the most recognizable parts of the song is its bright, chiming guitar figure, which gives the track an unusually relaxed and open sound despite the darker themes in the lyrics.
The recording features Curt Smith on lead vocals and bass guitar, while Roland Orzabal contributes guitar and backing vocals. Ian Stanley adds keyboards, and Manny Elias plays drums. The arrangement also includes additional guitar work that helps create the song’s shimmering, spacious character, with synth textures supporting rather than dominating the mix.
The song is written in D major and uses a distinctive 12/8 shuffle feel, which gives it a rolling, almost effortless groove. That rhythmic feel is one of the reasons the track stands apart from more rigid synth-pop songs of the same era. Its smooth pulse makes the song sound optimistic on the surface even though its subject matter is much more serious.
Lyrically, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” deals with power, ambition, control, corruption, and the desire for domination. The lyrics suggest that the urge to control others is universal and destructive, touching on political power, social pressure, and the way people compete for influence. The song’s pleasant melody creates a deliberate contrast with those darker ideas.
One curiosity about the song is that its title was originally “Everybody Wants to Go to War.” The writers later changed the phrase to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” which gave the song a broader and more memorable meaning. The final version moved away from one specific subject and became a more general reflection on power and human behavior.
Another interesting detail is that the song came together relatively late in the making of Songs from the Big Chair. Roland Orzabal initially considered it too lightweight compared with the rest of the album, but producer Chris Hughes encouraged the group to develop it further. The resulting track became one of Tears for Fears’ biggest hits.
The song achieved major international success. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and also topped charts in Canada and other markets. In the United Kingdom, it reached the Top 5, helping establish Tears for Fears as one of the biggest British pop acts of the mid-1980s.
The music video, directed by Nigel Dick, features Curt Smith driving through the United States, including scenes shot in California and the desert. The open-road imagery matches the song’s spacious sound and helped reinforce its popularity during the MTV era.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” won Best Single at the 1986 Brit Awards and became one of the defining songs of Tears for Fears’ career. It has since been covered and reinterpreted by many artists, including Lorde, whose darker version appeared on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The song’s long-term appeal comes from the contrast between its bright, elegant arrangement and its uneasy message about power and control. Its smooth rhythm, memorable guitar textures, strong vocal performance, and universal theme have helped it remain one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1980s.
Specification
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears is a new wave and pop rock song from the duo’s second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair. It was released in March 1985 through Phonogram and Mercury Records as the album’s third single. The song was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes, and produced by Chris Hughes.
Musically, the track combines polished 1980s pop production with a rhythmic guitar-driven arrangement. Its main elements include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, programmed percussion, and layered vocals. One of the most recognizable parts of the song is its bright, chiming guitar figure, which gives the track an unusually relaxed and open sound despite the darker themes in the lyrics.
The recording features Curt Smith on lead vocals and bass guitar, while Roland Orzabal contributes guitar and backing vocals. Ian Stanley adds keyboards, and Manny Elias plays drums. The arrangement also includes additional guitar work that helps create the song’s shimmering, spacious character, with synth textures supporting rather than dominating the mix.
The song is written in D major and uses a distinctive 12/8 shuffle feel, which gives it a rolling, almost effortless groove. That rhythmic feel is one of the reasons the track stands apart from more rigid synth-pop songs of the same era. Its smooth pulse makes the song sound optimistic on the surface even though its subject matter is much more serious.
Lyrically, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” deals with power, ambition, control, corruption, and the desire for domination. The lyrics suggest that the urge to control others is universal and destructive, touching on political power, social pressure, and the way people compete for influence. The song’s pleasant melody creates a deliberate contrast with those darker ideas.
One curiosity about the song is that its title was originally “Everybody Wants to Go to War.” The writers later changed the phrase to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” which gave the song a broader and more memorable meaning. The final version moved away from one specific subject and became a more general reflection on power and human behavior.
Another interesting detail is that the song came together relatively late in the making of Songs from the Big Chair. Roland Orzabal initially considered it too lightweight compared with the rest of the album, but producer Chris Hughes encouraged the group to develop it further. The resulting track became one of Tears for Fears’ biggest hits.
The song achieved major international success. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and also topped charts in Canada and other markets. In the United Kingdom, it reached the Top 5, helping establish Tears for Fears as one of the biggest British pop acts of the mid-1980s.
The music video, directed by Nigel Dick, features Curt Smith driving through the United States, including scenes shot in California and the desert. The open-road imagery matches the song’s spacious sound and helped reinforce its popularity during the MTV era.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” won Best Single at the 1986 Brit Awards and became one of the defining songs of Tears for Fears’ career. It has since been covered and reinterpreted by many artists, including Lorde, whose darker version appeared on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The song’s long-term appeal comes from the contrast between its bright, elegant arrangement and its uneasy message about power and control. Its smooth rhythm, memorable guitar textures, strong vocal performance, and universal theme have helped it remain one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1980s.
