Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you

Acting on your best behaviour
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


Lyrics submitted by numb

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Lyrics as written by Ian Stanley Christopher Merrick Hughes

Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management

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Everybody Wants to Rule the World song meanings
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    General Comment

    Sometimes I like to try and analyze a song line by line but it's kind of like critiquing a cake by eating the flour, eggs, sugar, etc. one at a time, you know? Rarely works out. Especially considering--and I do love this song--the lyrics are basically a vehicle for getting to the chorus, "Ev-ery-bo-dy-wants-to-rule-the-world." I think what's genius about it is that even though the lyrics don't hold a whole lot of symbolic weight, they're able to fit all the pathos and anger of the song into one phrase, just the WAY they sing it, you know? For me, I remember it best as the song they played in the previews for the TV-movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley," about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs (Noah Wyle is GREAT as Jobs), and that about sums it up in my mind: the soundtrack for the dream they were railing against. Which is a bit subversive, really.

    Lotsa hyphens in that post.

    owennnnnnnnnnon May 06, 2009   Link

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