Released: September 25, 1989

Featuring: Oleta Adams

Songwriter: Nicky Holland Roland Orzabal

Producer: Dave Bascombe Tears for Fears

[Intro: Roland Orzabal]
One, two, three, four!

[Verse 1: Roland Orzabal & Oleta Adams]
Heard every word that was said that night
When the light of the world put the world to right
Well here's to the boys back in 628
Where an ear to the wall was a twist of fate
I will shine a blinding light
Through those hearts as black as night
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But at least the seeds of love will be sown

[Verse 2: Roland Orzabal]
Now once in awhile when I feel no shame
I get down on my knees and I pray for rain
And though the breeze blows gently while I state my case
There'll be certain men waiting just to scratch my face
Hand on my heart I will make a stand
For the life and the times of the mirrorman

[Chorus: Roland Orzabal]
In my head there is a mirror
When I've been bad, I've been wrong
Food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Hope for a Badman, this is the Badman's Song

[Post-Chorus: Both]
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

[Verse 3: Oleta Adams]
Guilt in the frame of the looking-glass
Puts a shine on the mind where reflections pass
Where the jigsaw pieces of a broken man
Try and fit themselves together again
Lies in disguise in the name of trust
Put your head in the sand it will turn to dust
What's your problem? What's your curse?
Won't it make the matter worse?

[Chorus: Roland Orzabal & Oleta Adams]
In my head there is a mirror
When I've been bad, I've been wrong
Food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Hope for a Badman, this is the Badman's Song

[Post-Chorus: Both, Oleta Adams]
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Woah
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Uh-huh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Woohoo
Ooh, ooh, ooh

[Bridge 1: Roland Orzabal, Oleta Adams & Both]
And they say "Faith can move mountains
Fire can cleanse your soul"
Faith can move mountains
But mind over matter won't you stop all your chatter, no
Faith can move mountains
Faith can move mountains
But mind over matter won't you stop all your chatter, no

[Interlude]

[Verse 4: Roland Orzabal & Oleta Adams]
I heard every word that was said that night
When the light of the world put the world to right
When I hear soft whispers at the break of day
...
Sweet talking boys who can do no wrong
When the stories are tall as the day is long
With such a thin line drawn between friend and foe
Lord help me now and bless my soul

[Bridge 2: Both, Roland Orzabal]
Look at yourself, see how you lie
Your hands start shaking and you don't know why
Look at yourself, see how you lie
Your hands start shaking, they start shaking
Look at yourself, see how you lie
Your hands start shaking and you don't know, don't know, don't know why
Look at yourself, see how you lie
Shake, shake, shake, you don't know why
Don't know why, no you don't know why

[Interlude: Roland Orzabal]
Well there's food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Hope for a Badman...

[Chorus: Both, Oleta Adams]
In my head, there is a mirror
When I've been bad, I've been wrong
I have been really, really, really wrong
Food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Hope for a Badman, this here is the Badman's Song

[Chorus: Both, Oleta Adams]
In my head, there is a mirror
There is a mirror
When I've been bad, I've been wrong
And I've been bad, I have been really, really, really wrong
Food for the saints that are quick to judge me
Food for the saints that are so quick to judge me
Hope for a Badman
Hope for a Badman, hope for a Badman this is the Badman's Song

Tears for Fears

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.