'Mad World' by Tears for Fears

A song by the British band, Tears for Fears, it was written by Roland Orzabal and sung by the bassist Curt Smith. It was the band’s third single release and their first chart hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. The song also became Tears for Fears’ first international hit, reaching the Top 40 in numerous countries in 1982 and 1983. The song was then released again two decades later and enjoyed a new surge in popularity, when it was covered in a much slower, minimalist style by the composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules using only a set of piano chords and a cello for the movie Donny Darko in 2001. 

It was also a hit again in 2006 when used for the video game Gears of War. This version reached number one in the UK in December 2003, was at the top of the charts over the Christmas period and was again an international hit. 

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
Enlarging your world Mad world