The song is by Tears for Fears. Adam sang a Gary Jules arrangement, also featured on the Donnie Darko movie soundtrack.
Mad World
Kris Allen and Adam Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Worn out spaces, worn out places
Bright and early for the daily races
Goin' no where, goin' no where
And their tears are fillin' up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I 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 waitin' 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 kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin' 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
The song "Mad World" by Kris Allen and Adam Lambert explores the themes of isolation, hopelessness, and disillusionment in the modern world. The lyrics describe a world in which everyone is going through the motions of their daily routine with a sense of emptiness and despair. The lines "All around me are familiar faces, worn out spaces, worn out places" suggest that the characters in the song are surrounded by people they know, but they feel disconnected from them and stuck in their own thoughts.
The phrase "And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad" is a poignant commentary on the contradictory emotions that many people feel in response to the absurdities of modern life. The singer describes "dreams in which I'm dyin'" as the best they've ever had, suggesting that these dark fantasies offer a kind of escape from the banality of everyday existence.
Overall, "Mad World" is a powerful exploration of the universal human experience of feeling lost and alone in a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people I know.
Worn out spaces, worn out places
The places around me have been used too much and look old.
Bright and early for the daily races
People wake up early to start their daily routine.
Goin' no where, goin' no where
Despite their efforts, people are not progressing or achieving anything.
And their tears are fillin' up their glasses
People are crying so much their tears are filling their glasses.
No expression, no expression
People are not showing any emotions while they cry.
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
I want to hide my face and cry to forget my problems.
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
I have no hope for the future and don't see any way out of my problems.
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
I have mixed feelings about what I see around me.
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I ever had
The only dreams I have are ones where I am dying, which is better than reality.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It's difficult for me to express my feelings and to deal with what I see.
When people run in circles it's a very, very
When people are stuck in a cycle and not making progress, it's a
Mad world, mad world
world full of confusion and chaos.
Children waitin' for the day they feel good
Kids are waiting for a day when they feel happy.
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Birthdays are supposed to be joyful occasions.
Made to feel the way that every child should
Kids should feel happy and loved.
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Children are expected to listen to adults and follow instructions.
Went to school and I was very nervous
I was scared when I first went to school.
No one knew me, no one knew me
None of the students or teachers knew who I was.
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson?
I am asking the teacher what I am supposed to learn today.
Look right through me, look right through me
The teacher does not acknowledge me as an individual and treats me like a stranger.
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
I have mixed feelings about my experiences in school.
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I've ever had
The only good dreams I have are ones where I am dying because it's better than real life.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It's difficult for me to talk about my negative experiences in school and to reconcile my feelings about them.
When people run in circles it's a very, very
When people are stuck in a repetitive cycle and not making progress, it's a
Mad world, mad world, mad world, mad world
world full of confusion and chaos, repeated for emphasis.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROLAND ORZABAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Empressoftheflames
Adam was just so different from everyone else on Idol that season. His song choices and style were just on another level. This man was born to be a star!
@julicooke4266
That was the problem. No one knew how to take Adam and what BOX to put him in because there is NO BOX.
@luxurylass
NATURAL BORN STAR-- EVEN MY MOM HAD THE HOTS FOR HIM AND SHE WAS 84 AT THE TIME--LOL
@barbarajohnson-mccord5984
Empressoftheflames I agree hole heartedly
@DernLud
Empressoftheflames yes!! Adam is phenomenal!!
@JackIsNotInTheBox
HE STILL LOST THO
@kevinnegoro1118
He may not have won the battle but he definitely won the war. What a legend.
@ggisheretostay5678
YEP---BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM ...
@connor5837
Looking back on seeing this when I was a kid, I think this performance changed me. Incredible song.
And true.
@tinaliston
I love this comment