“Empire” is a song recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira from her tenth studio album Shakira. The song was released as the album’s first promotional single on February 24, 2014, and is scheduled to be the album’s official second single.

The official music video was released on March 25, 2014, directed by Darren Craig, Jonathan Craven and Jeff Nicholas from the Uprising Creative. In the video, Shakira emerges as a beautiful bride in white about to walk down the aisle in a flower-decked church. But in a dreamy twist, Shakira has a change of heart and is seen picking up her skirts and running away across a green sunlit field. Later, she’s seen standing on the church steps with her ruffled train catching fire.

Watch: Shakira – “Empire” Video

Lyrics for Shakira – Empire

[Verse 1]
Take off all of your skin
And breathe when you are free
Shake off all of your sins
And give them to me
Close up, lemme back in
I wanna be yours, wanna be your hero
And my heart beats

[Chorus]
Like the empires of the world unite
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
You’re my wildfire every single night
We are alive
And the stars make love to the universe
And you touch me
And I’m like, and I’m like – and I’m like!

[Post-Chorus 1]
Woo! Woo!
And I’m like
Woo! Woo!
And I’m like!
Woo! Woo!
And I’m like

Woo!

[Verse 2]
I will follow you down wherever you go
I, I’m baby I’m bound to you and do you know?
Closer, pull me in tight
I wanna be yours, wanna be your hero
And my heart beats

[Chorus]

[Post-Chorus 2]
Woo! Woo!
We are alive
Woo! Woo!
And I’m like!
We are alive!

[Bridge]
I’m just gonna raise my head
Welcome to the final edge
And I’m gonna fall
(And the stars make love to the universe)
I’m just gonna raise my head
And hold you close

[Chorus + Post Chorus 1]