My Gen X Playlist: Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears

What comes around goes around.

I used to believe in karma. Until the current administration entered the scene, that is. That guy seems to be teflon and nothing seems to stick. He can do and say the absolute worst and get away with it Scot free. I want to believe what comes around goes around. Lately, I’m beginning to lose faith.

There are a number of songs about karma out there. The ones I found either are already on the playlist or they were new to me songs so I had to pass on both accounts.

Instead I went in a different direction and ChatGPT suggested Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I kept searching because I loved this song when it came out and I didn’t want to tarnish it by creating an association to our current dictator. I ultimately had to relent when I came up empty.

Although musically this is quite a jangly and catchy song, its lyrical theme is actually pretty dark. “The concept is quite serious – it’s about everybody wanting power, about warfare and the misery it causes,” Curt Smith of Tears For Fears explained.

Songfacts

The juxtaposition of a jangly sound over the dark consequences sounds all too familiar these days. There are certain news stories that I almost want to laugh at because there is no way in hell they can be real. And then I realize it’s no joke and the punch line isn’t funny anymore. I’m not sure what’s worse. These outlandish news stories that are true or the fact I’ve become completely numb to the everyday chaos.

I remember sitting in my high school history class wondering what people were thinking about when they were living through these catastrophic events. Maybe future kids will be curious about the same thing about us when their history books describe the insanity we are currently living in today. Or maybe they’ll get distracted and wonder why that asshole is so orange. I know I wonder about that myself.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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