Tears for Fears

Released: September 25, 1989

Songwriter: Nicky Holland Roland Orzabal

Producer: Dave Bascombe Tears for Fears

[Verse 1: Roland Orzabal]
A waking world of innocence
So grave those first born cries
When life begins with needles and pins
It ends with swords and knives

[Verse 2: Roland Orzabal & Tessa Niles]
Oh dangerman, oh dangerman
Your blade fits like a glove
When forged in steel time cannot heal
That blood red bond of love

[Bridge: Roland Orzabal]
In times of trouble you're an open book
With the change in the way you look
And it's sad love's not enough to make things better

[Interlude]

[Verse 3: Roland Orzabal & Tessa Niles]
Turn the tables, we'll burn the fables
Lies beneath the visions and daydreams
Fooled by now, we mystify the past
Like a dream, like it never happened

[Interlude]

[Outro: Roland Orzabal & Tessa Niles, Roland Orzabal]
When life begins with needles and pins
It ends with swords and knives
God save those born to die

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 Seeds of Love

From the albums

The Seeds of Love (1989)
Classic (2009)

Tears for Fears popular songs

Swords and KnivesTears for Fears

Tears for Fears

The Seeds of Love