Mad World
Uomo Lyrics

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All around me are familiar faces
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 want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And 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
Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to 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

And 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
Enlarge your world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world

Mad world
Mad world

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Uomo's Mad World paint a picture of individuals feeling lost and hopeless in the world they live in. The song begins with the singer describing his surroundings, where everything seems mundane and predictable, leaving everyone with no real purpose or direction. The image of people running in circles reinforces the idea of aimlessness and frustration among those depicted in the song. The line "their tears are filling up their glasses, no expression, no expression" portrays a heavy sense of sadness and despair which seems to be ever-present.

The second verse of the song seems to shift focus to the younger generation, particularly children. The lyrics describe how society determines how children should feel, and how anxious they can be as a result of their surroundings. The lyrics speak to the idea that society tries to mold children to live in the same mad world that adults inhabit, which could explain why the singer feels like he or she is dying in their dreams. This could also suggest that the children's innocence is being stripped away by reality, leaving them feeling lost and alone.

Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of the world, with each line emphasizing the despair and anxiety of the people within it. The song's overall message suggests that the world that we inhabit is a mad world, where life seems futile and purposeless.

Line by Line Meaning

All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people I know well

Worn out places, worn out faces
The environment around me is deteriorating, and people look sad and tired

Bright and early for their daily races
People start their day with enthusiasm, but it leads them nowhere

Going nowhere, going nowhere
Despite their daily routine, people feel unfulfilled and aimless

Their tears are filling up their glasses
People are sad and often cry, which makes them drown in their own sorrow

No expression, no expression
People are emotionless and do not have any feelings

Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
I feel so overwhelmed and sad that I want to hide myself and forget everything

No tomorrow, no tomorrow
I don't see any future and hopelessness has taken over my life

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
I have mixed emotions about the situation and it is both amusing and depressing

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Even in my dreams, death seems desirable as it is a way out of this miserable world

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It is challenging for me to express my feelings or understand what's happening

When people run in circles, it's a very very Mad world
People are stuck in a loop, doing the same things that lead them nowhere, and it is a crazy world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Kids are anticipating a better future and hope to be happy someday

Happy birthday, happy birthday
Birthdays are meant to be happy, but life is not always that way

Made to feel the way that every child should
Kids deserve to have a happy childhood, but not all of them get this opportunity

Sit and listen, sit and listen
Children are expected to be quiet and obedient, without any input or feedback

Went to school and I was very nervous
I was scared and anxious when I went to school

No one knew me, no one knew me
I felt alone and lost, and no one recognized or understood me

Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson
I am seeking guidance and knowledge, asking my teacher what I need to learn

Look right through me, look right through me
However, I feel invisible and ignored, as if I don't matter or exist

Enlarge your world
This final line is a call to action - to expand our horizons and perspectives, and make the world a better place

Mad world
This phrase is repeated several times to emphasize how chaotic, insane, and unhappy the world is

Writer(s): Roland Orzabal

Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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