The road to fame started for Parks when her father submitted an impromptu application to the BBC's Fame Academy. She won the contest, and was given the opportunity to showcase her self-penned song "Maybe That's What It Takes" to a public audience. The song was released on 17th November 2003 and peaked at number 3 in the UK Top 40 the following week. Her debut album Introduction was subsequently released and sold over 500,000 copies
Parks went quiet for a long time, amid rumours that she had quit the industry, but returned late in 2005 with an acclaimed album entitled "Honesty". Unlike her previous album, everything on here consisted of her own work, something which she had been wanting ever since the Fame Academy days. Unfortunately, due to poor publicity and distribution issues this album did not reach as wide an audience as she may have liked.
Mad World
Alex Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
The lyrics to Alex Parks's song Mad World describe the feelings of isolation and disillusionment that can be experienced in modern society. The first verse sets the scene with images of people rushing around aimlessly, their faces and surroundings worn out from the monotony of everyday life. The tears filling up their glasses suggest that they are struggling to cope with the pressures and disappointments of their existence. The singer wants to escape from this world of despair and effectively numb her feelings by drowning her sorrow.
The chorus of the song is both ironic and poignant. The singer finds it "kind of funny" and "kind of sad" that her dreams involve dying. This could be interpreted in different ways - perhaps she is so disillusioned with life that she sees death as a better option or maybe she finds solace in the idea of peace and escape from the harshness of reality. The reference to "people running in circles" reinforces the idea that society is trapped in a cycle of repetition and futility.
The second verse shifts focus to the experience of children growing up. The lyrics suggest that children are expected to conform to certain expectations and repress their true feelings. The line "sit and listen" implies a sense of passivity and obedience, while the singer's feelings of nervousness and isolation at school are emphasized by the fact that "no one knew me". The final line of the verse - "hello teacher tell me what's my lesson, look right through me" - encapsulates the idea that education is often more about control and conformity than genuine learning and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I see people I know everywhere I go
Worn out places, worn out faces
The places and faces I see are tired and dull
Bright and early for their daily races
People wake up early to do the same things every day
Going nowhere, going nowhere
People's lives aren't going anywhere, and they feel stuck
And their tears are filling up their glasses
People are crying so much that their glasses are filling up with tears
No expression, no expression
People are emotionless and show no feelings on their faces
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
I want to hide and drink to forget my sadness
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
There is nothing to look forward to in the future
And I find it kind of funny
I find it a bit ironic
I find it kind of sad
But at the same time, it's also sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
My best dreams are those in which I die
Are the best I've ever had
Because they feel more real and vivid than other dreams
I find it hard to tell you
It's difficult for me to express this to you
'Cause I find it hard to take
Because it's hard for me to accept and understand
When people run in circles
When people are stuck doing the same pointless things over and over
It's a very, very
It's an extremely
Mad World
Crazy and chaotic world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Kids are waiting for the day they feel happy and content with life
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions
Made to feel the way that every child should
Kids should be made to feel loved and cared for
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Children are expected to sit and listen to authority figures
Went to school and I was very nervous
I was anxious and scared when I went to school
No one knew me, no one knew me
Nobody knew who I was or cared to get to know me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
I am asking the teacher what I am supposed to learn
Look right through me, look right through me
The teacher doesn't see me or acknowledge me as an individual
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roland Orzabal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melodee
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Roland Orzabal
Grace Rascher
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world, mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world, mad world
Enlarge your world
Mad world
Prodigal Hermit
Don’t let the past, the present, the future, change the fragrant heart you were born with ...
Every breath, every heartbeat, your entire lifetime is an opportunity to embrace the GOODNESS inside you. Don’t harden. Don’t wilt. Always be ready for the unexpected. Sorrow, joy, in between, our Path seems like an upside down quilt. Struggling to figure it all out, a Tender Loving Hand reaches down, slowly/silently, turning it over ... to our astonished amazement.
We fall to the knees of our heart, and breathlessly kiss the Hand we cannot now see. It happens at the most unexpected times, and often when we feel there is no One Who truly cares, understands.
Unshackled, our chains break free. The snares in our life, the fears, tears, anger and resentments meet Freedom. Our eyes glisten with the first dew of Father’s Breath, and our souls experience a warmth no earthly hearth could compare.
Opened eyes, through lifting fog, see a world meant to be seen. The hole in our heart we’ve denied a lifetime ... is offered a filling Touch.
Love.
“I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
“Rest now, My child, we’ve just a little further to go.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’ve ever been at your side. Now I’m willing to fill you entirely.”
“I Love you. Forever.”
—
Don’t look back, but remember to be kind at all times. The past will come to you, as the present. Just don’t rush anything. Just let that fragrance, finally, mix with His.
Prince of Peace.
Be at peace.
It’s going to be okay. ❤️
Doctor Q.
Holy crap, this version is so amazing. What a shame nobody seems to know it.
Karen Martinez
I heard this when I was in grade 9. It touched my soul
Christine Burns
It's my favorite.
Kris Johnson-Proctor
This is even better than the original 🥰
Spencer McDonald
I like this version the best. She has such a beautiful voice.
gregorthebigmac
By far and away the best cover of this song. Gut-wrenchingly beautiful.
Neo Mitchell-Kazansky
She's so underrated and so beautiful
J Bill
She's easily my new favorite artist. Just heard her last night.
Dirk Wilker
"Happy birthday" never sounded so sad and so beautiful. Alex puts emotion into her vocals better than anyone I've heard.
uktena66
This song always slays me, one of my favorites and Alex Parks version is my FAVORITE. So. God. Damn. Soulful.