Tears for Fears

Released: June 17, 1996

Songwriter: Roland Orzabal Alan Griffiths

Producer: Chris O’Shaughnessy Johnnie Walker

[Chorus]
When the seventh son of the seventh son
Comes along and breaks the chain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Making it plain, making it sane
To turn this loss into a gain

[Post-Chorus]
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain

[Verse 1]
Did you know your father was an island?
Did you know your mother was the sea?
Can we ever hope to seek asylum
From the bounds of fate and family?

[Chorus]
When the seventh son of the seventh son
Comes along and breaks the chain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Making it plain, making it sane
To turn this loss into a gain

[Post-Chorus]
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain

[Verse 2]
Did you know all mothers come from heaven?
Did you know all fathers come from hell?
That is why they're at sixes and sevens
That is why their marriage isn’t well

[Chorus]
When the seventh son of the seventh son
Comes along and breaks the chain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the kings of Spain
Making it plain, making it sane
To turn this loss into a gain

[Post-Chorus]
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the Kings of Spain
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul and the Kings of Spain

[Outro]
The Kings of Spain, the Kings of Spain
The Kings of Spain, the Kings of Spain
The Kings of Spain, the Kings of Spain
The Kings of Spain
Raoul

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

Raoul and the Kings of Spain

From the album

Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Raoul and the Kings of Spain (Acoustic)Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears

Raoul and the Kings of Spain