Mad World
Jasmine Thompson Lyrics

All around me are familiar faces
There are people surrounding me who I recognize, but I feel disconnected from them.

Worn out places, worn out faces
The environment around me is dull and unstimulating, and the people seem tired and unhappy.

Bright and early for the daily races
People are waking up and starting their daily routines, but with no clear purpose or direction.

Going nowhere, going nowhere
Despite their efforts, people are not progressing towards their goals or finding meaning in their lives.

Their tears are filling up their glasses
People are experiencing great sadness and despair, and their tears are overwhelming them to the point of drowning.

No expression, no expression
Despite their intense emotions, people are not able to express themselves, likely due to a sense of hopelessness and futility.

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
I am feeling overwhelmed with sadness and despair and want to escape from my feelings and my reality.

No tomorrow, no tomorrow
There seems to be no hope for the future and no possibility for things to get better.

I find it kind of funny
I feel conflicted about my current situation and find it ironic in a way that is both amusing and sad.

I find it kind of sad
Despite the initial humor, my feelings towards my situation are mainly ones of sadness and despair.

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
My dreams of death provide a kind of comfort and relief from the pain and suffering of my waking life, which speaks to the depths of my despair.

Find it hard to tell you,
It is difficult for me to express my emotions and my feelings of hopelessness to others, likely due to a sense of shame or fear of being misunderstood.

When people run in circles it's a very, very
The repetition and lack of progress that I see in myself and others is a sign of a dysfunctional and unhealthy world.

Mad world, mad world
The world that I am living in is one of profound sadness and dysfunction, with no clear path to healing or progress.

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Even children are not immune to the despair and hopelessness of the world around them, and they long for a time when they can feel better.

Happy birthday, happy birthday
Even celebratory occasions like birthdays are not enough to break through the pervasive sadness and disconnection that people feel.

And I feel the way that every child should
Despite my own sadness and despair, I recognize the innocence and potential for hope that exists in children.

Sit and listen, sit and listen
I try to be present for and attentive to the world around me, even though it is a difficult place to be.

Went to school and I was very nervous
I am sharing a personal experience from my past, where I felt out of place and uncertain.

No one knew me, no one knew me
I felt invisible and unimportant in this environment, where I did not have any meaningful connections to others.

Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?
I am crying out for guidance and direction in my life, something that feels elusive and difficult to find.

Look right through me, look right through me
Despite my earnestness and vulnerability, the teacher or others around me are not seeing or hearing me.

Mad world
The overall message of the song is that we are living in a deeply troubled and challenging world, one that can feel overwhelming and painful to navigate.