Everybody Wants to Rule the World piano

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Interactive Piano Sheet Music

By downloading Playground Sessions (FREE), and connecting your keyboard, you will be able to practice Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears, section by section. With Playground, you are able to identify which finger you should be using, as well as an onscreen keyboard that will help you identify the correct keys to play. You can also slow the tempo way down, which is great for learning a new song. At the end of each practice session, you will be shown your accuracy score and the app will record this, so you can monitor your progress over time.

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This song by the English band Tears for Fears puts forth the idea that “everybody wants to rule the world.” However, this isn’t meant in a literal sense per se. It rather serves as an allusion to the global reality the artists dealt with when this track was written. 

Song was written during the Cold War era

It was during that time that the Cold War between the United States and Russia was at one of its peaks that this song was written. Thus many of the cryptic lyrics in it refer to that tense situation. However, what the track is about in general is the lust for power and control and the destructive consequences which manifest as a result. Thus it is also believed that “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” contains references to George Orwell’s classic book 1984. It is important to mention that 1984 is not only about war but also its fictional government’s all-encompassing desire to control the masses.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World piano

Trivia/Facts

  • In fact this track originally featured the lyrics “everybody wants to go to war.” However, Tears for Fears weren’t feeling that phrase and modified it.
  • This is one of the most-beloved songs from the 1980s. For instance, it received the highly-distinguished BRIT Award in 1986.
  • Like many great songs throughout, history this one was a late and in fact final addiction to the album it is featured on. And what album is that? Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair. In fact Roland Orzabal, the co-founder of the band who originated the tune, more or less perceived it as a throwaway. However, he went on to continue writing it in conjunction with its producer, Chris Hughes and former Tears for Fears’ member Ian Stanley. And eventually in addition to coming out on the album on 25 February 1985, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was also released as a single on 15 March 1985.
  • As recently as April 2019, Tears for Fears performed “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” alongside Weezer at Coachella and with them again on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Appearances in Movies/TV Shows

And as far as television goes, it has been featured in the likes of Mr. Robot, Riverdale, The Dennis Miller Show, etc. It has been featured in countless media. For example, it was featured in the big-budget 2018 Steven Spielberg film titled Ready Player One.

How did “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” perform on the charts?

It topped the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 charts in America. Furthermore, it reached number 1 in both Canada and New Zealand. It also peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and charted in a few other countries.

Are there any covers of “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”?

Yes, there are. As a matter of fact, this track is one of the most covered tracks of the 1980s. One of the most-recognized covers of this song was in 2013 via Lorde for the second The Hunger Games movie. In fact Tears for Fears loved it so much, they played this rendition during their own concerts. 

20 Responses

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  1. dyllon Pepper says:

    November 26, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    another great cover of this song that sounds a lot more like the original is by ninja [expletive] party (silly name great vocals) they do some great covers of many songs

    Reply

  2. Shawn says:

    October 29, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    There is a new and very powerful cover of this song that was just released on YouTube by Caitlin Graci…check it out!

    Reply

  3. Anonymous says:

    January 5, 2021 at 8:23 pm

    Weezer rules the world <3

    Reply

    • K says:

      June 12, 2022 at 5:39 am

      The only thing Werner’s been ruling is my classic rock station! 😫

      Reply

  4. Anonymous says:

    January 26, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    Seems perfect for what’s going on today

    Reply

    • Anarchy is the only way says:

      July 15, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      Exactly!
      “One headline why believe it”
      One million headlines in our case, but same idea.
      Lust for power knows no bounds

      Reply

    • Anonymous says:

      June 2, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      Agreed!!! A Greedy world. So sad we almost made it!

      Reply

  5. FictionSmith says:

    March 16, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    Jeremiah Fink gonna be traveling into the future to make his own version of this masterpiece!

    Reply

  6. Miguel Pagina says:

    May 11, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    As the last flame flickers out in human existence, then the rest of the world can enjoy its final play.

    Reply

  7. Anonymous says:

    May 11, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    Humans are a blight on existence.

    Reply

  8. Paul C. Hoffman says:

    May 25, 2021 at 9:14 pm

    Or,
    humanity as a “crown of creation” – as a way that the universe can ‘break off a piece of itself’ and look back , reflect on itself, in ways (for good or ill – the final verdict on *that *is still out… still tbd) that no other sentient animal is capable of. Think telescopes, microscopes; think holonomy… That “there” might be similar to “here” the projecting of consciousness out through space, and time, written language, the “what if” experience simulator of our pre-frontal cortex — .. these are things which no other species has.
    That we *can* use these for ill is fairly obvious, Yes?
    That our past is “strewn with miracles” is a deeper truth that is being more and more revealed as we search for more knowing of just who we are, what this species is made of…
    (You’ve heard the one about: “the opposite of a simple truth is a simple lie. But the opposite of a Great Truth is Another Great Truth!” — ?)

    “Everybody wants to rule the world”
    — Yes,
    AND…
    also true, “everybody wants someone else to take care of things!”

    (Just do it well enough, OK?)

    Thomas Jefferson, writing the [U.S.] Declaration of Independence: “All history hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

    Reply

  9. I was there says:

    July 1, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    The Truth lies within Illuminati. This song is about the circles of people they interacted within the Elites.

    Everything is spelled as intended.

    Reply

    • Anonymous says:

      May 20, 2022 at 3:38 am

      This comment marked as propaganda.

      Reply

    • Anonymous says:

      June 14, 2022 at 7:04 pm

      You need to get some help

      Reply

  10. Hunter Kimble says:

    August 25, 2021 at 10:46 pm

    I remember hearing this song when it was first released in 1985 and being immediately captivated and drawn in by it. Fast forward to today: for some reason this song popped into my head and keeps playing and replaying in my brain.

    In an attempt to sort out what might be going on, I picked out the tune on the piano and discovered – lo and behold – the melody is entirely Pentatonic: it uses only 5 notes (think the Black Keys on a piano). There is something very ancient, simple, and universal about this particular five-note scale that directly touches the human spirit and connects with a deep part of our brain.

    Everybody Wants to Rule the World is one of the best settings of the Pentatonic Scale, EVER.

    Reply

    • dave says:

      April 9, 2022 at 3:43 am

      Specifically, the lead vocal melody is pent… The chord progressions utilizes the full major scale.

      Reply

  11. Bob ratman slobino. Lol. says:

    December 19, 2021 at 10:49 pm

    There is no truth, that is opposite of a truth told, but another description, could be asserted.

    Reply

  12. that one says:

    April 19, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    I’ve never heard this song 🙂

    Reply

  13. Anonymous says:

    September 18, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    Once this gets in my head I can’t get it out. I’m mesmerized by it. Would have to put it at the of my list of favorites from the 80s. Not sure how the video relates to the song. Anybody want to take a stab at that?

    Reply

  14. Anonymous says:

    November 13, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Try watching the movie Real Genius…with a young Val Kilmer. This song is in the closing scenes and fits perfectly.

    What is the easiest Billie Eilish song to play on piano?

    Ocean Eyes” is my favorite Billie Eilish song, even if it's not the one that won her the GRAMMY. There are really only 3 chords for the main part, and the chords are easy to play once you learn their inversions.

    What key is everyone wants to rule the world?

    Everybody Wants to Rule the World is written in the key of D Major.