Mad World
Roland Orzabal / Michael Andrews & Gary Jules Lyrics
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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
The lyrics to Roland Orzabal / Michael Andrews & Gary Jules's song Mad World describe a society that is grim, mundane, and devoid of emotions with no tangible purpose, ultimately leading to a sense of isolation and despair. The opening lines, "All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces," establish a sense of sameness and monotony, with individuals caught in a never-ending cycle of daily routines with no meaning. The image of the racecar track reinforces this idea, as people are racing but ultimately going nowhere. The lines "hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow, no tomorrow, no tomorrow," suggest that people have given up hope and have no prospect for the future.
The chorus, "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," further emphasizes the melancholic and hopeless atmosphere of the song. The singer is caught in a world that is mad, and the dreams of dying, which would typically be considered morbid, appear preferable to the bleak world that is present. The final lines "enlarge your world, mad world" suggest that perhaps by acknowledging and understanding the madness of the world, we can broaden our perspective and find a way to cope.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I see the same people everywhere I look
Worn out places, worn out faces
These people look tired and their surroundings are old
Bright and early for their daily races
They wake up early to go through the motions of their mundane lives
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Despite their efforts, they feel like they are not making progress in life
Their tears are filling up their glasses
They are crying so much that their glasses are getting filled with tears
No expression, no expression
They don't show any emotion on their faces
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
I wish to escape from my problems and forget all my troubles
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
I am hopeless, and there seems to be no chance for things to get better
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
I have mixed feelings about this depressing reality
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Even in my dreams, death is a more desirable outcome than my current life
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It's difficult for me to express this to others or even accept it myself
When people run in circles it's a very very
Seeing everyone stuck in the same cycle of despair is extremely
Mad world, mad world
This world is chaotic and unfair
Children waiting for the day, they feel good
Kids anticipate feeling happy on their birthdays
Happy birthday, happy birthday
A celebratory phrase used during birthdays
And I feel the way that every child should
I wish I could experience that same level of joy and innocence again
Sit and listen, sit and listen
As a kid, I was expected to be quiet and obedient
Went to school and I was very nervous
I was scared when starting school because I didn't know anyone
No one knew me, no one knew me
I was invisible and overlooked by my peers
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson?
I wanted someone to guide me and teach me what I needed to know
Look right through me, look right through me
Nobody paid attention to me, as if I wasn't even there
Enlarge your world
Expand your experiences and knowledge to break free from this suffocating existence
Mad world
This world is miserable and hopeless
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roland Orzabal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind