Mad World
Sara Hickman Lyrics
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Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going no where
Going no where
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow
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 its 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 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 its a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Enlarging your world
Mad world
The lyrics of Sara Hickman's Mad World paint a vivid picture of the bleak and desolate nature of modern society. The opening verse sets the scene with descriptions of familiar and worn out faces in mundane routines with no sense of purpose or direction. Their tears are so common they are filling up their glasses, showing a sense of apathy or resignation to their circumstances. The singer wants to hide their head and drown their sorrows - this sense of despair and hopelessness is palpable.
The chorus of the song is both poignant and ironic, with the singer describing the dreams in which they are dying as the best they've ever had. They find it hard to tell others about their struggle, and the fact that the world seems to be running in circles is a sign of how pointless and crazy it all seems. The lyrics are heartbreaking in their portrayal of a world that is mad, and their plea to "enlarge" it suggests a sense of wanting to break free from this cycle of hopelessness and find meaning.
Overall, the song delivers a powerful and hard-hitting message about the struggles of modern life, and the sense of isolation and despair that can come with it. The lyrics are expertly crafted to convey the emptiness and desperation of the singer's world, and the chorus perfectly encapsulates the irony and hopelessness of their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people who I have come to know well
Worn out places
The locations I frequent have been overused and are no longer new
Worn out faces
The people around me look tired and aged from their experiences
Bright and early for the daily races
People are determined and spirited in their attempt to win the day
Going no where
Despite their efforts, their goals are unattainable and they make no progress
Their tears are filling up their glasses
The sadness and frustration of their lives is becoming too much to bear and they've turned to tears and alcohol to numb their pain
No expression
Their faces show no emotion or joy
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
I feel overwhelmed and want to shut out the world and escape my sadness
No tomorrow
The future feels hopeless and bleak
And I find it kind of funny
I am amused by the irony of the situation
I find it kind of sad
I also feel sadness and empathy towards those around me
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Even in my dreams, death is preferable to the reality of my life
I find it hard to tell you
I struggle to communicate how I feel
I find it hard to take
It's difficult to cope with the pain and sorrow I witness in others
When people run in circles its a very very
The daily monotony and unfulfilling lifestyle of those around me is disheartening
Mad world
This world is crazy and full of despair
Children waiting for the day they feel good
The younger generation is waiting for a brighter future and a chance at happiness
Happy birthday
They hope that their next birthday will bring them closer to that happiness
And I feel the way that every child should
I also long for the carefree joy of childhood and hope for a better world
Sit and listen
I long for someone to understand and listen to my struggles
Went to school and I was very nervous
I've also experienced anxiety and tension in social situations
No one knew me
I felt invisible and unknown by others
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
I seek guidance and a purpose in life
Look right through me
Despite my wishes, others still do not see me or understand my needs
Enlarging your world
This world can be overwhelming, but expanding one's perspective and understanding of others can help bring hope and change
Mad world
This world is still full of madness and despair, but there is hope for a brighter tomorrow
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yindyamarra
Mad World" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's third single release and first chart hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982 Two decades later, the song made a popular resurgence when it was covered by composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack to the movie Donnie Darko. This version reached no.1 in the UK in December 2003.
@alyssabryant9097
I heard this song off of The Vampire Diaries Episode Resident Evil. And this song went beautifully with the scene of Stefan and Elena! I love it. I have listened to it 6 times in a row by now. :) <3
@anonymouspeacefulperson6199
Alyssa Bryant good for you! Hope that you have recovered from your prison break x
@tanishkpandey1726
Mee to here after tvd ..
@DCFCfanatic
They just used this version again on Legacies.
@wolfdaddy195
Forget about all of the other versions. Just enjoy this one for what it is. Sara, great job. Your voice sounds great.
@Keithlynn5
After years of watching and collecting versions of this song yours is still the one I come back to watch over and over
@sonozakimion26913
It's a simple song with a pretty simple video, but everything is just so creative... I like it a lot. I grew up listening to Sara Hickman.
@psmylie
A very haunting and beautiful rendition of this song. Wonderful job!
@Dunington
I also think this version is excellent. I like the childrens chorus they threw in for some of the song in the background behind her voice... adds a very good flavor to the song. I also like the way her daughter was implemented into the song. Over all it was a bit cheesy but still very well done. Gary jules has kind of a lost sound to his song kind of like a memory of being a child as this one is about loneliness and sorrow for the child him/herself.