Mad World
TRFN Lyrics

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All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, 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

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces

Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of TRFN's "Mad World" paint a bleak picture of society. The singer describes "familiar faces" and "worn out places," emphasizing the lack of change or progress. The imagery of people going through the motions of daily races, with no clear destination, speaks to a sense of purposelessness and emptiness. The line "their tears are filling up their glasses/no expression, no expression" suggests a deep sadness or despair that people are trying to drown out with alcohol or other distractions.

The chorus of the song takes on a more introspective tone. The singer admits to feeling a sense of detachment or amusement in the face of this bleak world, but at the same time, the dreams in which they're dying are the best they've ever had. This line is open to interpretation, but it could speak to a sense of relief or release from the pressures and emptiness of the real world.

As a whole, "Mad World" is a commentary on the darker aspects of society and the human experience. The bleak imagery and emotional distance of the verses contrast with the dreamlike, fantastical quality of the chorus. The song invites the listener to contemplate the nature of existence and the ways in which we cope with the difficulties of life.

Line by Line Meaning

All around me are familiar faces
The people surrounding me are those I recognize

Worn out places, worn out faces
Their environment and visage are exhausted

Bright and early for the daily races
They awaken early to compete in a conflict with no endpoint

Going nowhere, going nowhere
They're pursuing a pointless existence

Their tears are filling up their glasses
Their sorrow is overwhelming them to the point of drinking

No expression, no expression
They're emotionless and detached from their experiences

Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow
I want to conceal my face and escape my troubles by indulging myself

No tomorrow, no tomorrow
I don't have any reason to look forward to the future

And I find it kind of funny
I identify an irony in the situation

I find it kind of sad
But simultaneously, I feel sadness

The dreams in which I'm dying
I dream of my own demise