Tears for Fears

Released: March 7, 1983

Songwriter: Roland Orzabal

Producer: Ross Cullum Chris Hughes

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
Is this the start of the breakdown?

[Verse 2]
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 cry, half alive

[Chorus]
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?

[Post-Chorus]
Break, breakdown
Break, break

[Interlude]

[Chorus]
I can't understand you
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?
I can't understand you

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)
Everybody Wants to Rule the World: The Collection (2013)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Start of the BreakdownTears for Fears

Tears for Fears

The Hurting