Tears for Fears

Released: November 21, 1983

Songwriter: Roland Orzabal Curt Smith Manny Elias Ian Stanley

Producer: Chris Hughes

[Interlude]

[Verse 1: Curt Smith]
These fingers aren't my fingers
These hands are not my hands
No one sees and no one cares
What gets broken
Not for rhyme and not for reason
What gets broken
What gets broken

[Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder

[Verse 2: Curt Smith]
And the rhythm of machinery
Slows to a heartbeat
Echoing ghost tunes made by those who
Whistle while they work
Out of time and out of season
What gets broken

[Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder

[Post-Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
The way you are
Climb the ladder
The way you, way you are
Climb the ladder, climb the ladder

[Interlude]

[Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder

[Post-Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
The way you are
Climb the ladder
The way you, way you are
Climb the ladder, climb the ladder

[Interlude]

[Bridge: Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith]
The way you are
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
Climb the ladder
Climb the ladder, climb the ladder

[Interlude]

[Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
Going far the way you are
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder
Going far, getting nowhere
To tomorrow, to tomorrow
The way you are
To tomorrow, climb the ladder

[Post-Chorus: Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal]
The way you are
Climb the ladder
The way you are
Climb the ladder
The way you are
Climb the ladder
The way you, way you are
Climb the ladder, climb the ladder

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)
Remixed Songs from the Big Chair (2014)

Tears for Fears popular songs

The Way You Are (12" Version)Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears

The Hurting