Tears For Fears: Mad World Meaning
Song Released: 1982
Covered By: Gary Jules (2003), Jasmine Thompson (2013), Taylor John Williams (2014)
Mad World Lyrics
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...
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
Hi
When you know about Asperger Syndrome you understand what this song means for this kind of people. Asperger syndrome is a inefficiency to socialize, so people with the syndrome don't understand society rules so they have to learn them. One of the main characteristics of this kind of people is that they don't have expressions and don't understand expressions of others. They are people vulnerable to depression because all their life they feel alone, specially when along their life they didn't know about their syndrome. This is the kind of people that we think is weird and use to be alone all the time. The Asperger syndrome has a his origin in the autism syndrome, that's why sometimes people with Asperger syndrome stays alone and creates another world. -
Hello,
I found this page when I was searching in google for an interpretation for this song.
after reading the people's analysis, I understood some things.
1- this song is about a person who is tired from his daily routine (every day is like the one before), no change, no progress "going nowhere".
2- this feeling (becoming bored) is noticed by the people around him (friend, family ...) and they are sorry for him.
but this has no effect on him (he now doesn't care that others are sorry for him) "no expression"
3- he also wishes not to see tomorrow (so as not to be in this boring routine)
4- he even thinks that dying is the best thing for him (to stop the routine). and his dreams of dying are best thing he ever had.
5- then he remembers his childhood. and how when he was young he wanted years to pass birthday after another to grow up and achieve what he wants. He was eager to learn in school . So that the years he spent studying can help him to achieve what he wants when he grows up. but he didn't have friends in school, he didn't focus on personal relationships all he wanted is studying to continue his life and grow up.
6- finally, my advice to you is to enlarge your world . don't focus on daily things only . plan for your life, and have a mission in this world . and know the purpose behind your creation :
a- read in your religion and try to know the purpose behind your creation (if you already do not know).
b- if you are not convinced by your answer to that question, --> try reading in ISLAM and I am sure that you will find the answer to convince you.
Sorry if anyone don't like my final note (#6) ; but because this song is about a man that lost everything (his faith, mind , willingness to live) and I don't want you to be like him on any day.
Thanks -
I think this song is essentially about the loss of innocence and the apathy it brings.
It is a song about the apathy and depression that many adolescents feel as they grow out of their childhood years and start realizing the kind of ugly place the world is. Without good guidance from parents and/or teachers, they don't know how to deal with it and it leads to depression and even thoughts of suicide ("the dreams in which I'm dying..").
The first time I heard the song was on Donnie Darko, and it fits so perfectly with that movie. Although I've since grown out of it for the most part, I can really relate to this song 'cause it really reflects the morbid thoughts I had as a teenager.
If you pay attention to the lyrics you will see this theme throught the song.. "Children waiting for the day they feel good.." (thinking about his childhood and the naive bliss he was in).. "Teacher whats my lesson.." (begging an adult to tell him there's hope and something to look forward to in life)etc.
Absolutely brilliant song, but really kinda depressing too. -
"please tell me who I am".. exactly! I see this as about someone who is going through personal, spiritual crisis. "Who am I?" "What is this world about?" "What is the meaning of life?" The last line explains it all (and is missing from the quote on this website)... "Enlarge your world".. basically suggesting to look beyond the superficial toward what is real, practical, in the now..
-
A couple things I would like to add. "children waiting for the day they feel good happy birthday..."
Why are they waiting to feel good. Perhaps its the pressure of life gone awry. They are drawn to the 'escape' because they can't.
and I feel the way that every child should sit and listen...
Who should they listen to? themselves --wanting to escape is a big indicator that there is a major problem with their own identity being at risk of being lost.
hello teacher tell me what's my lesson look right through me..."
Its like saying 'Please, can you tell me who I am' -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
I think it's about a man tired of his life and he explains how life is meaning less and the individual doesn't matter. The worn out faces can be a metaphor for people always smiling and never showing the true feelings and then they're faces gets worn out. And that is why it becomes a mad world.
-
I believe the song is about how everyday, over and over, people go about their days doing the same thing even though they are worn out and sad and wishful for something new. People go to the same boring job, boring classes, boring places everyday, not just because they have to, but maybe because its all they know. And they are "familiar faces" because their "worn out faces" all have a similarity. And maybe they are going somewhere, but really they are not. And the "dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had" because the everyday same nothingness is so boring and sad that he finds when he dies in his dreams more appealing, like he's escaping from the sad blahness. "Children waiting for the day they feel good" because we all have these small little days which we look forward to, and how sad it really is. "Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson Look right through me" how the teachers and other people don't really care about you, they are just there to teach. There is no emotinal connection.
-
I believe the song is about how everyday, over and over, people go about their days doing the same thing even though they are worn out and sad and wishful for something new. People go to the same boring job, boring classes, boring places everyday, not just because they have to, but maybe because its all they know. And they are "familiar faces" because their "worn out faces" all have a similarity. And maybe they are going somewhere, but really they are not. And the "dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had" because the everyday same nothingness is so boring and sad that he finds when he dies in his dreams more appealing, like he's escaping from the sad blahness. "Children waiting for the day they feel good" because we all have these small little days which we look forward to, and how sad it really is. "Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson Look right through me" how the teachers and other people don't really care about you, they are just there to teach. There is no emotinal connection.
-
I thought of it as the views of a nihilistic person. He sees how bad the world has gotten, people seemingly doing things for nothing. He sees this and wishes to escape, as shown in the line "the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had." if you listen to the words, all the things he's describing kinda go along with what I've said. Id explain further, but its a lot to type. This sorta fits in with the first interpretation, how the narrator has been affected by this "mad world"
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
More Tears For Fears songs »
Latest Articles
-
A new era for Millennial favorite, Linkin Park
-
Anime to watch for the soundtracks… and other reasons you’re undateable
-
Dolly, we need you
-
The Stranger Things Effect: How new media is drawing Gen Z and Alpha's attention to aging media
-
The most underrated soundtrack of the early 2000s
-
Buy the Soundtrack, Skip the Movie: Brainscan (1994)
Trending:
Blog posts mentioning Tears For Fears
Kate Bush's Hill Got Taller |
This is Some Quality Garbage |
The Twelve Best Movie-Ending Songs - Part 1 |
Just Posted
Live Forever | anonymous |
Space Oddity | anonymous |
Remind You | anonymous |
You've Got A Friend | anonymous |
Austin | anonymous |
Bel Air | anonymous |
Firefly | anonymous |
My Medicine | anonymous |
Orphans | anonymous |
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) | anonymous |
A Whole New World (End Title) | anonymous |
Eyes Closed | anonymous |
The Phrase That Pays | anonymous |
Montreal | anonymous |
Moonlight | anonymous |