Tears for Fears

Released: June 10, 1985

Songwriter: Curt Smith Roland Orzabal

Producer: Chris Hughes

[Verse 1: Roland Orzabal]
I wanted to be with you alone
And talk about the weather
But traditions I can trace against the child in your face
Won't escape my attention
You keep your distance with a system of touch
And gentle persuasion
I'm lost in admiration - could I need you this much?
Oh, you're wasting my time
You're just, just, just wasting time

[Chorus: Roland Orzabal]
Something happens and I'm head over heels
I never find out 'till I'm head over heels
Something happens and I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away

[Post-Chorus: Roland Orzabal]
Throw it away
Throw it away

[Verse 2: Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith]
I made a fire and watching it burn
I thought of your future
With one foot in the past, now just how long will it last?
No, no, no, have you no ambition?
My mother and my brother’s used to breathing clean air
Nothing ever changes when you’re acting your age
And dreaming I’m a doctor
Nothing gets done when you feel like a baby
It’s hard to be a man when there’s a gun in your hand
Nothing ever changes when you’re acting your age
Oh, I feel so

[Chorus: Roland Orzabal]
Something happens and I'm head over heels
I never find out 'till I'm head over heels
Something happens and I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away

[Bridge: Roland Orzabal]
And this is my four-leaf clover
I’m on the line, one open mind
This is my four-leaf clover

[Outro: Roland Orzabal]
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
La la la-la la-la
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
La la la-la la-la
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
La la la-la la-la
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
La la la-la la-la
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
In my mind’s eye
La la la-la la-la
One little boy, one little man
La la-la la la, la la-la la la
Funny how time flies

Broken (Reprise)

[Instrumental]

Tears for Fears are an English pop band formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.

The group rose to fame in 1982 with single “Mad World”, which made it to number 3 in the UK charts and paved the way for the huge success of debut album The Hurting, released in 1983. However, it wasn’t until Songs from the Big Chair in 1985, a change in musical direction towards pop, that the band made it internationally. The record proved to be hit, reaching #2 in the UK and #1 in the US charts, and contains their most well-known singles, “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”. Third album The Seeds of Love, released in 1989, performed similarly, entering the UK Albums charts at #1.

In 1991, the band broke up. Curt Smith went on as a solo artist while Roland Orzabal continued as Tears for Fears, releasing Elemental in 1993 to much success in the UK (though significantly less in the US) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain in 1995, which did poorly in the charts, only reaching #41 in the UK but with some acclaim in continental Europe. In 2000, Curt and Roland reunited and recorded what became Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, released in 2004 to positive reviews and moderate success. The band currently continues to tour.

more tracks from the album

Songs from the Big Chair

From the albums

Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the ’80s, Vol. 15 (1995)
Donnie Darko (Original Soundtrack & Score) (2004)
Chilled Electronic 80s (2016)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Head Over Heels / Broken (Reprise)Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears

Songs from the Big Chair