Tears for Fears

Released: April 18, 1983

Songwriter: Roland Orzabal

Producer: Ross Cullum Chris Hughes

[Verse 1: Curt Smith]
How can I be sure
When your intrusion's my illusion?
How can I be sure
When all the time you change my mind?
I ask for more and more
How can I be sure?

[Chorus: Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal]
When you don't give me love
You give me pale shelter
You don't give me love
You give me cold hands
And I can't operate on this failure
When all I wanna be is
Completely in command

[Verse 2: Curt Smith]
How can I be sure
For all you say you keep me waiting
How can I be sure
When all you do is see me through
I ask for more and more
How can I be sure?

[Chorus: Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal]
When you don't give me love
You give me pale shelter
You don't give me love
You give me cold hands
And I can't operate on this failure
When all I wanna be is
Completely in command

[Interlude]

[Verse 3: Curt Smith]
I've been here before
There is no why, no need to try
I thought you had it all
I'm calling you, I'm calling you
I ask for more and more
How can I be sure?

[Chorus: Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal]
When you don't give me love
You give me pale shelter
You don't give me love
You give me cold hands
And I can't operate on this failure
When all I wanna be is
Completely in command
Completely in command

[Outro: Curt Smith]
You don't give me love, you don't give me love
You don't give me love, you don't give me love
You don't give me love, you don't give me love

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

The Hurting

From the albums

The Hurting (1983)
Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) (1992)
Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears (2001)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set (2002)
Big Shiny ’80s (2004)
Pride (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture) (2014)
Rule the World (2017)
NOW 100 Hits Forgotten 80s [UK] (2019)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Pale ShelterTears for Fears

Tears for Fears

The Hurting