Tears for Fears

Released: March 15, 1985

Songwriter: Chris Hughes Ian Stanley Roland Orzabal

Producer: Chris Hughes

[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 Interlude]

[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

Tears for Fears are an English pop band formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.

The group rose to fame in 1982 with single “Mad World”, which made it to number 3 in the UK charts and paved the way for the huge success of debut album The Hurting, released in 1983. However, it wasn’t until Songs from the Big Chair in 1985, a change in musical direction towards pop, that the band made it internationally. The record proved to be hit, reaching #2 in the UK and #1 in the US charts, and contains their most well-known singles, “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”. Third album The Seeds of Love, released in 1989, performed similarly, entering the UK Albums charts at #1.

In 1991, the band broke up. Curt Smith went on as a solo artist while Roland Orzabal continued as Tears for Fears, releasing Elemental in 1993 to much success in the UK (though significantly less in the US) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain in 1995, which did poorly in the charts, only reaching #41 in the UK but with some acclaim in continental Europe. In 2000, Curt and Roland reunited and recorded what became Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, released in 2004 to positive reviews and moderate success. The band currently continues to tour.

more tracks from the album

Edited Songs from the Big Chair

From the albums

Real Genius (The Official Soundtrack) (1985)
This Is Rock (1985)
Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
Five Tracks From Songs From The Big Chair (1989)
Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) (1992)
Peter’s Friends: The Album (1993)
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion: Original Soundtrack (1997)
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tears for Fears (2000)
The Best of the 80's: 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection (2000)
Music from Malcolm in the Middle (2000)
Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears (2001)
NOW That’s What I Call The ’80s [US] (2008)
Classic (2009)
Middle Men (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2010)
Rock Band 3 Setlist (2010)
Everybody Wants to Rule the World: The Collection (2013)
White Bird in a Blizzard (Songs From the Film) (2014)
Edited Songs from the Big Chair (2014)
Rule the World (2017)
Ready Player One: Songs From the Motion Picture (2018)
I Love 80s (2018)
Le Grand Bain (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018)
NOW That’s What I Call Gold [UK] (2021)
NOW That’s What I Call hmv [UK] (2021)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Everybody Wants to Rule the WorldTears for Fears

Tears for Fears

Edited Songs from the Big Chair