The band then opted to re-record Mad World in 1983 with producers Ross Cullum and Chris Hughes, a former drummer with Adam and the Ants.Ĭurt Smith’s ad lib in the song’s final chorus resulted in one of the most famous mondegreen’s of all time.Ĭurt Smith later concluded, “It’s a dark song but it brings back happy memories”. Orzabal said in 2013, “The song was intended as a B-side but Polygram (record label) said it was too good, so it became our third single.” While it is probably a song criticizing Communism as it was written in 1984 the lyrics fit to anything which tries to indoctrinate people into following a specific scheme or routine in order to become perfect citizens or if I may, believers.However, after a few false starts with Orzabal on vocals, he suggested Smith sing it and “suddenly it sounded fabulous”. This chorus does bring the same message as it did previously with the minor change that people should start to think outside the box they have been indoctrinated into doing with the addition of the phrase, "enlarge your world".Įvidently, the song in general is what happens to people living in a utalitarian society. As a child he or she feels no one knows him or her because he or she is evidently different from everyone else, because of his or her retained individuality, still being able feel happiness but as time goes by, the main character feels more and more confused and oppressed and asks the only authority figure in school what he or she should do, begging for someone to take notice of him or her, but in avail, as the little indivdiuality the main character has left is slowly disappearing. This stanza tells about how the main character is finally introduced to society and left out from the safeties of home. Look right through me, look right through me they are prepared to be conformed into a perfect society and should obey authority figures without hesitation and doubt. Children are not allowed to be happy and they are longing for something which doesn't exist while being told at the same time of what they are waiting for will come true but only if they are patient enough. This stanza tells about the childhood of the main character, hence the grown-up point of view in the beginning. The main character finds it frustrating of how everyone are aware of this but still nothing changes as if this knowledge never existed.Ĭhildren waiting for the day they feel goodĪnd I feel the way that every child should In the second line we get to know that the main character strongly wants for an escape and where death seems to be the only option left.
It is supposed to be a perfect society where optimal happiness is supposed to be expressed but no such happiness truly exists. In the chorus we get to know how ironical the main character feels this sort of society is in which he or she lives in. When people run in circles it's a very, very I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had The tomorrow people want doesn't exist.Īnd I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad Because of that they must hide their feelings so they fit into society, making it a very bleak world without happiness or anything to long for, therefore there is no tomorrow. In this stanza we get to know that the main character is telling us how everyone really longs for a change but are living in an equilibrium-sort of state and therefore can't. Same people, same places, everyone doing their best to assess society but still not feeling satisfied with their current living situation. We get to know the main character's daily life where nothing happens or ever changes. This stanza symbolizes the point of view in a grown-up perspective.
This is an analysis of the lyrics to the song Mad World originally peformed by Tears For Fears, later covered by Gary Jules which is not only a great cover but brings out the message in a way Tears For Fears didn't.