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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
Children waiting for the day, they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I 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
Enlarge your world
Mad world
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
Children waiting for the day, they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I 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
Enlarge your world
Mad world
Lyrics submitted by Emilia-san, edited by paryafarrokhi, sjihaat, JojoBearBinx
Mad World Lyrics as written by Roland Orzabal
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The first verse is very indicative of a very repetitive life-style, 'worn out places, worn out faces'. In reality, everyone is rushing about their day, but for what? 'Going nowhere, going nowhere'. I believe the line 'their tears are filling up their glasses' is not meant to be taking literally, but rather their sorrows and sadness lead them to drink perhaps more-so, as in 'filling up their glasses'.
The verse referencing children is almost like a comparison between the first; between adulthood and childhood. 'Children waiting for the day they feel good, happy birthday...' seems to suggest is the only time in your life when you'll actually have a meaning for being alive, being a child it seems so exciting. It goes on to, again like an adult, present the robotic and mundane, repetitive routines that throughout your whole like you endure... 'sit and listen, sit and listen'.
'When people run in circles it's a very very... Mad World'. Why are we doing this? It's mad.
Love your remark about "tears are filling up their glasses." I never would've thought that to mean that their sadness was driving them to drink. Awesome job interpreting!
@betweenlines91 "Why are we doing this?" Because we are several billion monkeys in a piece of rock flying through deadly vacuum and radiation, around a giant ball of fire, around a infinitely more giant black hole. Even in our little planet life has been largely about war and suffering. It's easier to fool yourself than to look at the big picture.