Mad World
Cram Lyrics


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All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the 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 kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
These 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

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I 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 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, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world




Mad world
Mad world

Overall Meaning

The song "Mad World" by Cram's, released in 1982, is a hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric portrayal of the bleak and disillusioned outlook of modern society. The opening lines, "All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces," set the tone for the melancholic and hopeless mood of the song. The lyrics describe people going through life in a monotonous routine, competing in daily races with no particular direction or goal, and drowning their sorrows in their own tears. The use of the metaphor of tears filling up glasses and the lack of expression in people's faces evoke a feeling of emptiness and loneliness.


The second half of the song turns more introspective and personal with the singer's admission of having dreams in which he dies, but they are the best dreams he's ever had. The contrast between the morbidity of the singer's dreams and the beauty he finds in them is a reflection of the suffocating mundanity of his everyday life. The bridge of the song, "When people run in circles, it's a very, very, mad world," summarizes the theme of the song; that modern society is an endless cycle of the same unfulfilling routine, leading to a sense of despair and disillusionment.


Overall, "Mad World" is an incredibly affecting portrayal of the ennui and disconnection that many people feel in modern life. The song's haunting melody and introspective lyrics have made it a transcendent classic for decades.


Line by Line Meaning

All around me are familiar faces
The people around me are all too familiar and seem to be going through the same repetitive motions every day.


Worn out places, worn out faces
The environment and the people have become tired and run down.


Bright and early for the daily races
Everyone is up early to start their daily routine, which feels like a race with no finish line.


Going nowhere, going nowhere
Despite all the running around, there is no sense of progress or any direction in life.


Their tears are filling up their glasses
People are overwhelmed with sadness and are drowning in their own tears.


No expression, no expression
People have become so used to the monotony of life that they no longer show any emotion or passion.


Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
The singer feels overwhelmed with sadness and wants to disappear into it.


No tomorrow, no tomorrow
There is no hope or optimism for the future.


And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The artist has conflicting emotions about the situation around them, finding it both ironic and heartbreaking.


These dreams in which I'm dying
The artist is haunted by dreams of their own death.


Are the best I've ever had
Despite the darkness of these dreams, they are still preferable to the reality of life.


I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
The artist struggles to communicate and accept the harsh realities of life.


When people run in circles it's a very very
The constant repetition and lack of progress make for a very oppressive and frustrating environment.


Mad world
The world around the singer is insane and overwhelming.


Children waiting for the day they feel good
Even the young ones feel a sense of unease and are waiting for a better tomorrow.


Happy birthday, happy birthday
The chorus of 'happy birthday' feels hollow and meaningless in the grand scheme of things.


And I feel the way that every child should
The artist wishes they could feel the innocent joy and wonderment of a child again.


Sit and listen, sit and listen
The only thing left to do is sit and listen, as everything else feels futile.


Went to school and I was very nervous
The singer felt anxious and out of place when they were in school.


No one knew me, no one knew me
The artist felt invisible and unnoticed in school.


Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson
The artist is seeking guidance and direction, but feels ignored and dismissed by authority figures.


Look right through me, Look right through me
The artist feels invisible and ignored, as if they don't even exist.


Mad world
The overwhelming sense of despair and lack of fulfillment is pervasive throughout the world.


Mad world
The madness and chaos of the world is all-encompassing and inescapable.


Mad world
The world is insane and overwhelming, and there seems to be no end to it.


Mad world
The world is full of madness and despair, and it's a place that the singer struggles to live in.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roland Orzabal

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

The Vibe Guide

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.

Suz Can't Sing

It is a mad world!

CopyrightFreeMusic

The Vibe Guide <3

Ciel

❤❤

Le Cyclone

Tears For Fears Fan TVG ? ;)

JohnnyShots

Classic song and the remix did it justice! 👌🏼

PALIO DO DJ

Muito top amei 😍😍😍😍

Drive637

Oh my freakin' God TVG, this gives me the exact same chills as the breathtaking piano version of Marius Furche. I'm feeling so strongely connected to this channel OMG 😲 Awesome. Freakingly awesome.

White Eagle Music Network

So wonderful Love it !!!!

Baxy

Out of every Mad World remix/covers etc I have been looking through, this is the most decent!

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