Misheard Lyrics: “Everybody Wants To Boogaloo”

Next up in the misheard lyrics dictionary is one of my favorite all-time songs (not just from the ’80s.) On the heels of their global mega-hit “Shout”, Tears For Fears released the third single from the 1985 album Songs From the Big Chair titled “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The song would become the second straight chart-topper in the US and assist in launching their album into the platinum stratosphere.

“Everybody Wants to the Rule the World” lives on as one of the definitive songs of the ’80s. The track has been covered numerous times by the likes of Patti Smith, Weezer, and Lorde for the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack. With its critical and commercial success, you would think it might be difficult to screw up the lyrics. That, of course, is not grounds to keep any song safe including one of my personal favorites.

I can’t remember the exact time but at some point years ago my significant other confessed her misinterpretation of the song. That conversation went something like this:

You know, when I was a kid I always thought they were singing “Everybody Wants to Boogaloo.”

Booga what, now?

Boogaloo!

Seriously? You know I won’t be able to not hear Boogaloo every time I listen to the song now. Thanks a lot.

The good news is I forgave her and still to this day (after almost 20 years of marriage,) when “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” comes on the radio we just look at each other and have a laugh. Yet, I still make sure to sing the correct lyrics as loud as I can.

According to AmIRight, my wife isn’t the only person to change the lyrics. See if any of these interpretations might sound familiar:

Everybody wants to move around.” (rule the world)

“Buried with an apparition.” (Married with a lack of vision)

There’s a room where the wife won’t find you.” (life)

One headlight, wipers beating” (headline, why believe it)

Are you guilty of some misheard lyrics? Leave a comment if you have any others that you want to throw in the mix…

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About Jason Gross 557 Articles
'80s Kid, '90s Grad, and '00s Dad. I've been writing and podcasting about 1980s pop culture since 2011 at my Rediscoverthe80s.com website. I collect vinyl, cassingles, '80s comics, Batman memorabilia, and all things Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.

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