Mad World
Taylor John Williams 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 wanna drown my sorrow
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
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
(Mad world) Ooh
"Mad World" is a melancholic and haunting song by Tears for Fears, covered by Taylor John Williams in the 7th season of The Voice. The song expresses the alienation and isolation that people feel in the modern world. The first verse paints a picture of people rushing to work every day like a rat race, with no purpose or meaning in their lives. The second verse focuses on the singer's own feelings of loneliness and despair. He wishes to hide his head and drown his sorrow, as there seems to be no hope for the future. In the chorus, the singer finds it both funny and sad that the dreams in which he's dying are the best he's ever had, highlighting the absurdity of the world around us. And the song ends with the children waiting for their happy day, that also never comes.
The repetition of "mad world" at the end of each verse emphasizes the idea that the world we live in is mad, insane, and bizarre. The lyrics show a sense of detachment from the world, highlighting the lack of connection between people in today's society. What sets Tears for Fears' original version and Taylor's cover apart is their delivery: while the former is more upbeat and pop-inspired, Taylor's version is stripped down and raw, emphasizing the song's themes of despair and surrealism.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people that I have encountered before
Worn out places, worn out faces
The places and people around me seem tired and exhausted
Bright and early for their daily races
Everyone wakes up early to start their daily routine
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Despite going through the motions every day, people seem to be stuck in the same place
Their tears are filling up their glasses
People are crying so much that their glasses are getting filled with tears
No expression, no expression
People are not expressing their emotions, they seem to be bottled up
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow
I want to hide from the world and forget all of my problems
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
The future seems bleak and hopeless
I find it kinda funny
I have a sense of humor about it
I find it kinda sad
At the same time, it makes me feel a sense of sadness
The dreams in which I'm dying
My dreams include visions of me dying
Are the best I've ever had
Despite the dark thoughts within them, they are the most exciting and memorable dreams I've had
I find it hard to tell you
It's difficult for me to express my thoughts and feelings
I find it hard to take
It's difficult for me to cope with the world around me
When people run in circles
People seem to be going through the same motions with no progress
It's a very, very mad world, mad world
The world seems insane and chaotic
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Kids are anxiously waiting for a time when they feel happy and content
Happy birthday, happy birthday
They are waiting for their birthday, which represents a special day for them
And I feel the way that every child should
I want to feel the same happiness and joy that children experience on their birthdays
Sit and listen, sit and listen
I want to take a break and just listen to others
Went to school and I was very nervous
I remember feeling very anxious when I went to school
No one knew me, no one knew me
I felt like I was invisible and went unnoticed by others
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
I was looking for guidance from my teacher on what I should learn and how to get through school
Look right through me, look right through me
It seemed like my teacher didn't see me or recognize my struggles
(Mad world) Ooh
The world is a crazy and unpredictable place
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roland Orzabal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind