Mad World
Michael Andrews f/Gary Jules Lyrics

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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
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 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Mad World" by Michael Andrews is a haunting and melancholic ballad that speaks to the pervasive sadness and isolation that can be found in modern society. The lyrics start out by painting a picture of a world filled with people who are living mundane and unfulfilling lives. They wake up early every day to go through the motions of their daily routines, but there is no passion or purpose to their existence. They are trapped in a cycle of disappointment and despair, and their only solace is in drowning their sorrows with alcohol.

The chorus of the song highlights the irony of this situation, as the dreams in which the singer is dying are the best he's ever had. This speaks to the idea that sometimes it can feel like death would be a relief from the pain and monotony of life. The second verse focuses on the experience of children growing up in this world, and the sense of invisibility and alienation that many of them feel. The singer, speaking from his own experience as a shy and nervous child, asks his teacher to help him understand what his purpose is in life.

The song ends with the repeated line "mad world", which underscores the sense of confusion and hopelessness that permeates the lyrics. Overall, "Mad World" is a powerful reflection on the emptiness and alienation that can be felt in contemporary society, and the ways in which we cope with these feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people I know

Worn out places, worn out faces
The places and the people are tired

Bright and early for their daily races
They wake up early every day to compete with each other

Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their competition does not take them anywhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
They cry so much that their glasses become full of tears

No expression, no expression
They do not show any emotions

Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
I want to forget my sadness

No tomorrow, no tomorrow
There is no hope for the future

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
I have mixed emotions about the situation

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
My best dreams are the ones where I die

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It is difficult for me to communicate and endure