Memories Fade
Tears for Fears Lyrics


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There's only need
I love your need
So much I'm losing me
I cannot see the reason for the Pain
With hungry joy
I'll be your toy
Just hoping you will play
Without hope my body starts to fail

Memories fade but the scars still linger
Goodbye my friend
Will I ever love again
Memories fade but the scars still linger

I cannot grow
I cannot move
I cannot fell my age
The vice like grip of tension holds me fast
Engulfed by you
What can I do
When History's my cage
Look foward to a future in the past

The more I talk
The more I say
The less you seem to hear
I'm speechless in a most peculiar way
Your mind is weak
Your need is great
And nothing is too dear
For you to use to take the Pain away
Memories Fade




No don't pretend you can justify the end
Memories fade but the scars still linger

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tears for Fears’ song “Memories Fade” explore the idea of sacrificing one’s own self for someone else’s needs. The opening lines, “There’s only need, I love your need, so much I’m losing me,” reveal the singer’s willingness to put their own identity aside for someone else’s comfort. The singer is willing to be a toy or plaything for this person, even though it is causing them physical and emotional pain. The lines “Without hope my body starts to fail” demonstrate the serious toll that this relationship is taking on them.


Despite this, the singer cannot seem to break away from this person, and their memories of the relationship continue to linger even after it ends. The chorus states, “Memories fade but the scars still linger, goodbye my friend, will I ever love again?” The scars that this relationship has left on them, both physical and emotional, are still present even though they are trying to move on. The singer is questioning whether they will be able to love again after experiencing such a dysfunctional relationship.


The second verse further emphasizes the singer’s struggles, as they feel trapped in their own past. The lines “Engulfed by you, what can I do, when history’s my cage, look forward to a future in the past” convey the feeling of being unable to escape from the relationship and constantly reliving past memories. The singer feels they are unable to grow or move on due to the weight of the relationship holding them back.


Overall, “Memories Fade” explores the themes of sacrificing oneself for someone else’s needs and struggling to move on from a toxic relationship. The lyrics paint a complex picture of the singer’s emotions and struggles, making it a powerful and thought-provoking song.


Line by Line Meaning

There's only need
I understand that your needs are important to you and I want to fulfill them.


I love your need
I care about you and want to satisfy your desires.


So much I'm losing me
I'm starting to sacrifice my own identity and emotions for the sake of meeting your needs.


I cannot see the reason for the Pain
I don't understand why this relationship causes so much emotional distress.


With hungry joy
I'm eager and enthusiastic to please you.


I'll be your toy
I'm willing to be manipulated and used for your own pleasure.


Just hoping you will play
I'm hoping that you'll reciprocate and give me some emotional satisfaction.


Without hope my body starts to fail
When I don't receive any emotional fulfillment, it affects my physical health and well-being.


Memories fade but the scars still linger
Even if we move on from this relationship, the emotional damage will stay with me.


Goodbye my friend
We've reached the end of our relationship, and I'm saying farewell.


Will I ever love again
I'm unsure if I'll be able to trust and love someone else after this experience.


I cannot grow
I feel stuck and unable to make progress or move forward emotionally.


I cannot move
I'm feeling emotionally paralyzed and unable to take action.


I cannot feel my age
I don't feel like I'm moving forward in life and growing emotionally, despite my physical age.


The vice like grip of tension holds me fast
I'm trapped in a tense, emotionally charged situation that I can't escape from.


Engulfed by you
I feel overwhelmed and consumed by our relationship.


What can I do
I'm at a loss as to how to improve our situation and find emotional fulfillment.


When History's my cage
My past experiences and emotional baggage are holding me back and trapping me in the present situation.


Look forward to a future in the past
I'm hopeful that I can eventually move on from this traumatic experience and leave it behind like a distant memory.


The more I talk
I'm expressing my concerns and emotions to you.


The more I say
I'm trying to communicate with you and make you understand my feelings.


The less you seem to hear
Unfortunately, you're not really listening to me or acknowledging my emotional needs.


I'm speechless in a most peculiar way
I'm finding it difficult to articulate my feelings in a clear and concise manner.


Your mind is weak
You're not mentally strong enough to handle the emotional complexity of this relationship.


Your need is great
You have a strong desire and craving for emotional fulfillment.


And nothing is too dear
You're willing to go to great lengths and make sacrifices to meet your emotional desires.


For you to use to take the Pain away
You'll do whatever it takes to find emotional satisfaction and avoid emotional distress.


No don't pretend you can justify the end
Don't try to rationalize or justify the end of our relationship, because it's caused real emotional damage.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROLAND ORZABAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@davegahan526

Roland orzabal's voice is got something divine that makes me feel melancolic I just can't explain

@TheArtist-mu9kt

Roland pours his heart into his singing

@haleysalas9947

This is one of the many best performances Tears for Fears have done. Such an underrated band and deserves more recognition worldwide.

@magdavivianavivancosepulve3615

Más una bella música de esta banda TFF que no deja de sorprenderme y seducirme.
Roland, sin ninguna duda su identidad, tipo vocal es inconfundible, un verdadero regalo de Dios, es extraordinaria, tiene alcances de barítono y sus agudos tienen una densidad más lírica y por eso no suena irritante, o sea, tiene los elementos claves para un timbre vocal admirable y cautivante.
La forma que TFF , desde siempre, mezcló todos los diferentes instrumentos... pocas , muy pocas bandas han sido capaces de hacer eso . Son obras primas de la música.
TFF fue, es y siempre será una de las mejores bandas del mundo.
No me canso de escucharte Roland, no me canso de escuchar TFF. Saludos afectuosos desde Chile-Brasil.

@WestchesterNYMilton

En acuerdo; uno de los mejores grupos de rock en esta epoca de Inglaterra. Es interesante ver que Roland tiene raices espanoles y argentinos por lado de su padre. Lo lei por Wikipedia.

@NYKgjl10

One of my favorite songs from the Hurting Album....I love it!!

@CarolH2O

TFF is fantastic, and this debut album The Hurting when I discovered it as a teenager really made me realize depths of depression and isolation and being abandoned in so many ways, I was forgotten about by almost everyone it seemed and the only company I had were 2 or 3 boyfriends during that time, ages 14 to 19. Unfortunately I had boyfriends who either drank or did other things I began to feel resentment for, because it was the only attention I got back then. But yes, memories fade but the scars still linger😢

@ludovicguenot2298

Indémodable, quel groupe fabuleux! 😀Un des meilleurs groupes de pop rock du monde 👍👍👍

@MultiMrMiles

the 80s BEST decade for livin- TFF greatness- its awesome- never forget those times---new times are a horror.

@SwampFox4939

I'm 14 and I love music like this. I don't get music sucks today.

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