Ladybird
Tears for Fears Lyrics


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Tell me a story of mind over matter
The hope and the glory of life ever after
The sound and the fury the cloak and the dagger
Days when we sink like a stone

Porcelain portraits and silver medallions
Plasticine soldiers that march in battalions
Angels of mercy and lifelong companions
Days when we sink like a stone

There's a room somewhere with a different look
Where your secret life is an open book
Where the love we made was a chance we took
Days when we sink like a stone

Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire

Let us be lovers we'll melt after midnight
Hoist up the mainsail we'll coast through the daylight
Twisted like candles that fade in the half-light
Days when we sink like a stone

Well we die sometimes to begin again
When the same old dreams have the same old end
When we lose our mind or we lose our friends
Days when we sink like a stone

Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire
Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire

Your friends have gone
Porcelain portraits and silver medallions
Your friends have gone
Plasticine soldiers that march in battalions
Your friends have gone
Angels of mercy and lifelong companions

Tell me a story of mind over matter
The hope and glory of life ever after
The sound and the fury
The cloak and the dagger

Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire
Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire

Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire




Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
Ladybird fly away our house is on fire

Overall Meaning

The song "Ladybird" by Tears for Fears is a melancholic reflection on the struggles that arise in life. The lyrics start by asking to be told a story of "mind over matter," suggesting that the singer is seeking guidance on how to cope with difficult situations. The hope for a glorious life ever after is juxtaposed with the sound and fury of life's challenges and the cloak and dagger of deceit. The lyrics suggest that in the face of adversity, we can feel like we're sinking like a stone.


The song then describes the memories of happier times, represented by the porcelain portraits, silver medallions, and plasticine soldiers. These treasures are the remnants of a happier past, symbolizing the people and relationships that once meant so much, but now seem to belong to a different time. The song also speaks of lifelong companions and angels of mercy, acknowledging the importance of those who have been there for us through thick and thin.


The refrain uses the metaphor of a ladybird flying away to symbolize the loss of friends and the destruction of the singer's house. The song acknowledges that sometimes, we need to let go of the past and start again, maybe by becoming lovers who will "melt after midnight" or by hoisting up the mainsail and coasting through the daylight. Ultimately, the lyrics speak to the human struggles of loss, isolation, and the need for hope.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me a story of mind over matter
Share with me an experience where mental strength takes precedence over physical limitations


The hope and the glory of life ever after
The optimistic outlook on life with a possibility of a better future


The sound and the fury the cloak and the dagger
The noise and the chaos that surrounds secretive and maybe even deceptive situations


Days when we sink like a stone
Times when we feel hopeless and helpless, akin to a sinking stone


Porcelain portraits and silver medallions
Reminiscent of fragile yet valuable memories


Plasticine soldiers that march in battalions
Comparing toy soldiers to people marching, perhaps trying to highlight the idea of people blindly following the leader


Angels of mercy and lifelong companions
People meant to be caretakers and long-term emotional supporters


There's a room somewhere with a different look
Imagining a change in scenery or environment


Where your secret life is an open book
A place where one can be transparent about their life even if it's a secret


Where the love we made was a chance we took
Describing a place where love could be kindled and ignite unexpectedly


Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
The ladybird could be symbolic of hope, here it most likely signifies a plea for hope when friends depart from life


Ladybird fly away our house is on fire
Another plea to this symbol of hope when one is in the midst of danger and fear


Let us be lovers we'll melt after midnight
Perceiving love as passionate and overwhelming, likening it to melting, and finding an opportunity to be in love in the wee hours of the night


Hoist up the mainsail we'll coast through the daylight
Overcoming any obstacles and enjoy being alive


Twisted like candles that fade in the half-light
The ephemerality of life, comparing it to a candle that's burning out


Well we die sometimes to begin again
Death can be seen as the beginning of a new journey


When the same old dreams have the same old end
Stuck in a routine with no promise of growth and progress


When we lose our mind or we lose our friends
Either losing our ability to reason or losing valuable people in our lives


Your friends have gone
The repetition of this line could signify a sense of loss and grief


Tell me a story of mind over matter
Reiterating the importance of mental toughness in tackling life's obstacles


The hope and glory of life ever after
Reemphasizing the optimistic outlook on life


The sound and the fury
Highlighting the turmoil and commotion in life


The cloak and the dagger
Signifying deceit and lies


Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
A final plea to the symbol of hope in the face of loss


Ladybird fly away our house is on fire
The final plea to this symbol of hope in perilous times


Ladybird fly away our friends are gone
The final plea to the symbol of hope in the face of loss


Ladybird fly away our house is on fire
The final plea to this symbol of hope in perilous times




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVE BUSH, STEPHEN HANLEY, CRAIG SCANLON, MARK E SMITH, SIMON WOLSTENCROFT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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