Primary members: Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith; Manny Elias, Ian Stanley
Band Biography
Albums of focus: The Hurting (1981)
Songs for study:

"Mad World"

"Pale Shelter" (Live)

"Start of the Breakdown" (Live)

"Memories Fade"

"Ideas as Opiates"

About the band's name:

"It came from one of [Arthur Janov's] books called The Prisoners of Pain, just a chapter about children's nightmares, and it put forth a theory that if every child was allowed to be normal, they wouldn't invent monsters to be scared of. I mean, the monsters are invented because the children can't admit what they're scared of. And one of the ways to allow children to be natural, if they're upset about something and cry, is to let them. Tears as a replacement for fears, Tears for Fears."

- Curt Smith, 7 August 2008

"Mad World" from The Hurting (1981)

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 kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I’m dying Are the best I’ve ever had I find it hard to tell you coz 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 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 kind of funny I find it kind of 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 enlarged in your world Mad world

"Start of the Breakdown" (Live at Rockpalast, West Germany, May 1983) "It was a reference to my father, who had a nervous breakdown. 'Dry skin flakes when there's ice in the veins...' He had arterial sclerosis, and breakdown is the nervous breakdown. At that time there were certain bands that allowed you to be that morbid, and they were cool bands—people like Joy Division—who really glorified that kind of pain and suicidal instincts." -Roland Orzabal

Scratch the ice Let the telephone ring Sense of time is a powerful thing And we love to laugh Love to cry Half alive We love to Go slow when we’re dancing for rain Dry skin flakes where there’s ice in the vein And we love to cry Half alive Is this the start of the breakdown? I can't understand you Is this the start of the breakdown? I can't understand you Is this the start of the breakdown?

Scratch the earth Dig the burial ground Sense of time won’t be easily found And ten out of ten For the ones who defend Pretend too Breakdown is a final demand We stand firm with our heads in our hands As we love to to cry Half alive Is this the start of the breakdown? I can’t understand you Is this the start of the breakdown?

"Memories Fade" (from The Hurting, 1981) "The whole notion of repression in psychology is that although things are shoved to the back of one's mind, they still exert a force on your behaviour, creating phobias, depression, insecurities...You're using up energy when you're repressing things, which could be used for far better things..." - Roland Orzabal

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 feel my age The vice-like grip of tension holds me fast

Engulfed by you What can I do? When History’s my cage Look forward to a future in the past Memories fade but the scars still linger Goodbye, my friend! Will I ever love again? Memories fade but the scars still linger 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