Head over Heels / Broken
Tears for Fears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And talk about the weather
But traditions I can trace against the child in your face
Won't escape my attention
You keep your distance with a system of touch
And gentle persuasion
I'm lost in admiration, could I need you this much?
Oh, you're wasting my time
Something happens and I'm head over heels
I never find out 'til I'm head over heels
Something happens and I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away
Throw it away
Throw it away
I made a fire, I'm watching it burn (yeah)
I thought of your future
With one foot in the past, now just how long will it last?
No, no, no, have you no ambition? (Mmm, what's the matter with my?)
My mother and my brothers used to breathe in clean in air
(Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age)
And dreaming I'm a doctor (nothing gets done when you feel like a baby)
It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand
(Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age) oh, I feel so
Something happens and I'm head over heels
I never find out 'til I'm head over heels
Something happens and I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away
And this my four-leaf clover
I'm on the line, one open mind
This is my four-leaf clover
(La, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la) in my mind's eye
(La, la, la, la, la) one little boy, one little man
(La, la, la, la, la)
Funny how time flies
The song, Head Over Heels, by Tears for Fears, is about being in love with someone, but not being able to express your feelings to them because of societal and familial expectations. The opening lines, "I wanted to be with you alone, and talk about the weather," suggest the singer's desire to spend time with their love interest in a casual setting. However, societal "traditions" and the "child" in the love interest's face, hint at the pressure to conform to social expectations and avoid getting into personal or romantic conversations.
The line, "You keep your distance with a system of touch and gentle persuasion," reveals that the love interest is also aware of the societal pressure, and is hesitant to show their true feelings. The singer is lost in admiration and deeply in love, wondering if they need their love interest this much, while frustrated that their time is being wasted.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more frustrated with their love interest's lack of ambition, comparing them to their mother and brothers who were able to breathe in clean air. The lines, "It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand," suggest a feeling of helplessness in the face of societal expectations. However, despite all of these challenges, the chorus reveals that the singer is still head over heels in love with their partner.
Interestingly, the song's chorus uses a play on words by repeating the phrase, "Something happens and I'm head over heels," which means that the singer is overjoyed and in love, but can also be interpreted as falling head over heels, which would imply a loss of control. This could be an acknowledgement of the singer's helplessness in the face of societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted to be with you alone
I had a desire to spend time alone with you
And talk about the weather
I wanted to engage in casual conversation with you
But traditions I can trace against the child in your face
I can see that you are burdened by societal expectations that are associated with your youthfulness
Won't escape my attention
I am observant and will notice these burdens and obstacles that you face
You keep your distance with a system of touch
You maintain physical boundaries with a technique of interaction
And gentle persuasion
You try to influence and persuade others with a soft touch
I'm lost in admiration, could I need you this much?
I find myself deeply impressed by you and wonder if I am becoming too attached
Oh, you're wasting my time
You are causing me to spend my time in an unproductive manner
You're just, just, just wasting time
You are only serving to waste my time
Something happens and I'm head over heels
My emotions intensify and I become completely infatuated with you
I never find out 'til I'm head over heels
I am unaware of the depth of my feelings until they completely consume me
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
I am pleading with you to not harm me emotionally
Don't, don't, don't throw it away
Please do not discard my love and affection for you
I made a fire, I'm watching it burn (yeah)
I have created something that I am now watching perish
I thought of your future
I have been considering what your future may hold
With one foot in the past, now just how long will it last?
You seem to be stunted by your past, and it begs the question of how long that will hinder you
No, no, no, have you no ambition?
I cannot help but wonder if you are lacking in drive and desire to achieve in life
My mother and my brothers used to breathe in clean air
My family used to enjoy a more natural, healthy environment
(Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age)
Observation regarding how little change occurs as people grow older
And dreaming I'm a doctor
I have had aspirations of becoming a physician
(nothing gets done when you feel like a baby)
Comment on the lack of progress when one feels weak or helpless
It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand
One cannot truly feel like a man when they are holding a weapon
(Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age) oh, I feel so
A refrain commenting on stagnation as people progress in age
And this my four-leaf clover
A reference to an object that is considered to be lucky
I'm on the line, one open mind
I have an open mind and I am taking a risk with my decisions
This is my four-leaf clover
Repetition of reference to the lucky object
(La, la, la, la, la)
Vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Repetition of vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la)
More vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Even more vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la)
Continued vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Continued repetition of vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la)
Further vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
More repetition of vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la)
Additional vocalizing
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la) in my mind's eye
In my imagination or memory
(La, la, la, la, la) one little boy, one little man
Reference to the growth and maturation of an individual
(La, la, la, la, la)
More vocalizing
Funny how time flies
A comment about the swiftness of time passing
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sarttan
Thank you for doing this justice.Β So many people forget that Broken exists, and it deserves just as much recognition as Head Over Heels gets.
@AffonsoSalles
Eu amo os dois juntos; Sempre!
@maryspadilla1445
Excelente π
@ssnobrakesable
great album........songs from the big chair.
@MultiMrMiles
80s my life.....TFF just awesome really
@alialissad
<3
@randomwriter02
2:32
Ha!