Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears For Fears: Music Video & Facts

Album/collection: Songs from the Big Chair
Genre: Pop
iTunes release date: February 25, 1985
Track runtime: 4:11

May 26, 2026

TEARS FOR FEARS - EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD artwork

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About the Song

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a song by the 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 18 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 centres on themes of corruption.

Meaning Behind the Lyrics

The song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" can be read as a reflection on humanity's intrinsic desire for power and control. For many listeners, the lyrics delve into complex themes of ambition and the moral compromises that often accompany the quest for dominance. The music combines elements of new wave and synth-pop, providing an upbeat contrast to the deeper, sometimes darker message about ambition and corruption. This juxtaposition may prompt listeners to consider the lengths people will go to achieve their goals, evoking a sense of both aspiration and caution about the pursuit of power.

Did You Know?

Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal.
Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands of the 1980s, and attained international chart success as part of the Second British Invasion.