Everybody Wants To Rule The World – English Lyrics

• By: Tears For Fears
• Album: Songs For A Nervous Planet

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the iconic 80s sound with Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." This classic offers a fantastic opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to power, societal critiques, and human nature, all set to an undeniably catchy melody. Its thought-provoking lyrics, though delivered with an upbeat rhythm, provide a deeper understanding of English expressions that convey serious messages in a subtle way, making it a truly special song for language learners.

[English]

(GRAVEL CRUNCHING)

(JAZZY POP MUSIC)

♪ 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, 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 ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rule /ruːl/ B1	verb - to exercise ultimate power or authority over (an area and its people) noun - a principle or instruction stating what is allowed or not allowed
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural forces.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
design /dɪˈzaɪn/ B1	noun - a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made. verb - to plan and make decisions about (something being built or created).
remorse /rɪˈmɔːrs/ C1	noun - deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance.
pleasure /ˈplɛʒər/ B1	noun - a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.
room /ruːm/ A1	noun - a space within a building that is separated from other spaces by walls.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
walls /wɔːlz/ A1	noun - a continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land or a building.
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - have or maintain an upright position, supported by one's feet. verb - tolerate or endure (someone or something annoying or unpleasant).
indecision /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒən/ C1	noun - the inability to make a decision quickly and effectively.
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B2	noun - the ability to see.
headline /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/ B2	noun - a heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine.

Key Grammar Structures

• WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ This is an instruction or command. While seemingly a greeting, the use of the imperative mood sets a tone of inevitability and control. The verb is omitted but implied to be "Begin" or "Enter".

• EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP, WE WILL FIND YOU

  ➔ Future Simple with "will"

  ➔ This uses the future simple tense with "will" to express a certainty about a future action. It implies a determined effort to locate the listener, even in passive states.

• TURN YOUR BACK ON MOTHER NATURE

  ➔ Phrasal Verb + Imperative

  ➔ "Turn your back on" is a phrasal verb meaning to reject or abandon something. The line is again in the imperative mood, urging the listener to disregard natural instincts or principles.

• IT'S MY OWN DESIGN

  ➔ Possessive Adjective + Noun

  ➔ "My own" emphasizes personal control and responsibility. "Design" in this context suggests a deliberate plan or strategy.

• HELP ME TO DECIDE

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to decide" is an infinitive expressing the purpose of the request for help. It indicates *why* the speaker needs assistance.

• THERE'S A ROOM WHERE THE LIGHT WON'T FIND YOU

  ➔ Relative Clause with "where"

  ➔ "Where the light won't find you" is a relative clause modifying "a room." "Where" refers to a place, indicating the room is a place of darkness or seclusion.

• SO GLAD WE'VE ALMOST MADE IT

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense (contracted)

  ➔ "We've made it" is a contraction of "we have made it", using the present perfect tense. This indicates an action completed in the past with relevance to the present – almost reaching a goal or achieving something significant.

• SAY THAT YOU'LL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEED IT

  ➔ Future Simple (contracted) + Adverb of Frequency

  ➔ "You'll never need it" uses a contracted future simple form combined with "never," an adverb of frequency indicating a complete lack of necessity. The repetition of "never" emphasizes the denial.