543 song adam lamberts

Written By: Tears For Fears

1.

From the title of the song - what do you think this song is about? Do you think it is
a sad or happy song? Discuss with your group/partner.

2.

Complete the crossword – use your dictionary or the Internet to assist you if
necessary.

1

2

ACROSS

3
3
4

5

6

7

8

1. The opposite of “nowhere”.

4. The superlative form of “early”.
7. Complete the expression
meaning “everywhere” – ‘far and
_ _ _ _’.
9. Use a prefix to create the
opposite of “familiar”.
10. An opposite of “hard”.
11. A word similar in meaning to
“nervous”.

9
10

DOWN
11

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa

2. Add a suffix to “expression” to
form a new word.
3. The opposite of “early”.
5. A word meaning “hide”.
6. A word meaning “very bright”.
7. The opposite of “best”.
8. A word to describe “sorrow”.


3.

Select the best word or phrase (in red) from Column B that has more or less the

same meaning as a word or phrase (in blue) in Column A.
Column A

Column B

A

familiar

not leading to any conclusion

B

worn out

difficult to accept

C

bright and early

having no direction

D

going nowhere

to ignore someone

E

hide my head

to be embarrassed / ashamed

F

drown my sorrow

very early in the morning

G

kind of funny

tired / used

H

hard to take

to drink alcohol so as to stop feeling bad

I

run in circles

easy to recognise

J

to look right through someone

strange

4.

Listen to the first part of the song and fill in the gaps using the words in the box
below.
nowhere

expression

drown early

glasses

places
familiar

All around me are ______________(1) faces,
Worn out ____________(2) – worn out faces;
Bright and ____________(3) for their daily races,
Going nowhere – going ________________(4).
And their tears are filling up their _____________(5),
No expression
– no
______________(6)
5. Listen to the remainder
of the

song
and correct the mistakes.
Hide my head I want to ____________(7) my sorrow,
And I find it kind of sunny; I find it kind of sad
No tomorrow
– no tomorrow
Deep
amfrying
blue
The__________
dreams in whichII’m
are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to sell you, I find it hard to bake
When people run in circles it’s a very, very
mad girl – mad girl
Children waiting for the may they feel good,
Snappy birthday – snappy birthday.
Made to feel the way that every child would,
Fit and listen – fit and listen.
Went to tool and I was very nervous,
No one flew me – no one flew me.

by Enid
Venter –
Hello preacher tellCreated
me what’s
my lesson,

South Africa

Looked flight through me – looked flight through me.


6.

Select the best definition (in green) from Column B that has more or less the same
meaning as the idiom (in orange) in Column A. Words that have been taken from the
lyrics are given in blue.
Column A

Column B

A

to throw your weight around

to avoid letting people know that you are
good at something, usually because you are
shy

B

here today, gone tomorrow

to punish someone so that they will not
behave badly again

C

to look on the bright side

in a place that is far away from where most
people live

D
E

teach somebody a lesson

to make someone cry

in the middle of nowhere

to try to see something good in a bad
situation

F
G

reduce somebody to tears

stay in one place for a short time

hide your light under a bushel

to behave in a way which shows that you are
more important or powerful than other
people

H

not look a gift horse in the mouth

you should not criticize something good that
has been offered to you

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


7.

Use the Internet or a dictionary to help you find the meaning for the following
idioms / expressions. The words underlined are from the lyrics. Use 5 of the idioms
/ expressions in sentences – tell them to your partner / group.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8a.

come through something
while the going is good
the school of hard knocks
to be on your best behaviour
be (caught) between a rock and a hard place
as mad as a hatter

be dead to the world

Use the Internet to do some research on teenage suicides. Give answers to the
questions that follow. Information can be obtained from many different websites
– Examples:
/> />1.

Does the character the singer portrays display any of these symptoms?
Answer ”Yes”, “No” or “Not Given”.
sadness
anxiety
feelings of hopelessness
oversleeping
feelings of pessimism
thoughts of death
thoughts of suicide

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

2.

difficulty concentrating
feelings of guilt
little interest in hobbies

fatigue
insomnia
changes in appetite

Some of causes of teenage suicides are given below: Rank these in order
of what you consider to be the most serious (1 = most important. 10 = least
important).
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

8b.

o
o
o
o
o
o

parents divorcing
drug abuse
peer pressure

domestic violence
physical / sexual abuse
parents financial problems
bullying at school
break up with a girlfriend or boyfriend
failing (or fear of failing) exams
mental disorders

Compare with your partner / group and then talk about which (in your opinion)
cause the most suicides / attempted suicides and how we can try to prevent the
suicides.

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


Repeat picture of Adam
Lambert from Page 1
here before printing the
lyrics.
Picture not included
because of space.

Written By: Tears For Fears

All around me are familiar faces,

Happy birthday – happy birthday.

Worn out places – worn out faces;

Made to feel the way that every child should,

Bright and early for their daily races,

Sit and listen – sit and listen.

Going nowhere – going nowhere.

Went to school and I was very nervous,
No one knew me – no one knew me.

And their tears are filling up their glasses,

Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson,

No expression – no expression

Looked right through me – looked right

Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow,

through me.

No tomorrow – no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny; I find it kind of
And I find it kind of funny; I find it kind of

sad.

sad

The dreams in which I’m dying are the best

The dreams in which I’m dying are the best

I’ve ever had.

I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it’s a very, very

When people run in circles it’s a very, very

Mad world . . . mad world

mad world – mad world

Mad world . . . mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good,

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


TEACHER NOTES AND ANSWER KEY:
I have included numerous tasks – take your pick. The crossword contains some of the words /

phrases used in the song but some of the vocabulary is general.
I have included an ordering task after the Answer Key.
Video link for Adam Lambert live on Regis & Kelly: />Video link for Tears For Fears version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXuXikfIYHY
Download free crossword puzzle maker at: www.eclipsecrossword.com/

ANSWER KEY
1.

From the title of the song - what do you think this song is about? Do you think it is a sad or happy
song? Discuss with your group/partner.
I get students to research the topic of rising rate of suicide in teenagers. They could research the reasons that
teenagers commit suicide and make some suggestions as to how we could try to prevent this from happening.

2.

Complete the crossword – use your dictionary or the Internet to assist you if necessary.
ACROSS
1.
everywhere
4.
earliest
7.
wide
9.
unfamiliar
10. soft
11. anxious

3.

DOWN
2.
expressionless
3.
late
5.
conceal
8.
sadness
6.
brilliant
7.
worst

Select the best word or phrase (in red) from Column B that has more or less the same meaning as a
word or phrase (in blue) in Column A.
familiar.......................................................................easy to recognise
worn out......................................................................tired / used
bright and early........................................................very early in the morning
going nowhere............................................................not leading to any conclusion
hide my head.............................................................to be embarrassed / ashamed
drown my sorrow......................................................to drink alcohol so as to stop feeling bad
kind of funny.............................................................strange
hard to take...............................................................difficult to accept
run in circles..............................................................having no direction
to look right through someone..............................to ignore someone

4.

Listen to the first part of the song and fill in the gaps using the words in the box below.

1. familiar
5. glasses

2. places
6. expression

3. early
7. drown

5. Listen to the remainder of the song and correct the mistakes.
And I find it kind of funny; I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it’s a very, very
mad world – mad world

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa

4. nowhere


Children waiting for the day they feel good,
Happy birthday – happy birthday.
Made to feel the way that every child should,
Sit and listen – sit and listen.
Went to school and I was very nervous,
No one knew me – no one knew me.
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson,
Looked right through me – looked right through me.

6.

Select the best definition (in green) from Column B that has more or less the same meaning as the
idiom (in orange) in Column A. Words that have been taken from the lyrics are given in blue. Some
definitions have been sourced from the “Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary”.
Column A

Column B

A

to throw your weight around

to behave in a way which shows that you are more
important or powerful than other people

B
C

here today, gone tomorrow
to look on the bright side

stay in one place for a short time
to try to see something good in a bad situation

D

teach somebody a lesson

E

F
G

in the middle of nowhere
reduce somebody to tears
hide your light under a bushel

H

not look a gift horse in the mouth

to punish someone so that they will not behave badly
again
in a place that is far away from where most people live
to make someone cry
to avoid letting people know that you are good at
something, usually because you are shy
you should not criticize something good that has been
offered to you

7.

Use the Internet or a dictionary to help you find the meaning for the following idioms /
expressions. The words underlined are from the lyrics. Use 5 of the idioms / expressions in
sentences – tell them to your partner / group. (Definitions and examples taken from Cambridge
Advanced Learner Dictionary.)
1.

slip through your fingers
if something you hope to achieve slips through your fingers, you do not manage to

achieve it
You're surely not going to let a job/man like that slip through your fingers!

2.

while the going is good
while an opportunity lasts
Many people fear that the newly-elected government will be ousted in a military coup
and are leaving their country while the going is good.

3.

play hard to get
to pretend that you are less interested in someone than you really are as a way of
making them more interested in you, especially at the start of a romantic relationship:
Why won't you call him back? Are you playing hard to get?

4.

to be on your best behaviour
to behave very well, usually because you are in an important or formal situation
Now children, I want you all to be on your best behaviour when grandma arrives.

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


8a.

5.

be (caught) between a rock and a hard place
if you are between a rock and a hard place, you have to make a difficult decision
between two things that are equally unpleasant
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. If I go with Isobel, it'll be much more
expensive and if I go with Julie, Isobel probably won't speak to me again.

6.

as mad as a hatter
to be crazy
A long time ago, people who made hats used a substance that gave them an illness
which made people think they were crazy.
Her brother's as mad as a hatter.

7.

be dead to the world
to be sleeping very deeply
Guy was curled up on the sofa, dead to the world.

Use the Internet to do some research on teenage suicides. Give answers to the questions that
follow. Information can be obtained from many different websites.
Information extracted from various websites on teen suicides is given at the end.

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


Ordering (I print the 1st half on a different colour to the second half). I give them the lyrics to check the answers.
The lyrics are mixed up and students listen and place the lyrics in the correct order. They must also find the correct half of
the line.

All around me
Worn out places –
Bright and early
Going nowhere –
And their tears are
No expression –
Hide my head I want to
No tomorrow –
And I find it kind of funny;
The dreams in which I’m dying
I find it hard to tell you,
When people run in
mad world –
Children waiting for
Happy birthday –
Made to feel the way
Sit and listen –

are familiar faces,
worn out faces;
for their daily races,
going nowhere.
filling up their glasses,
no expression
drown my sorrow,
no tomorrow
I find it kind of sad
are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to take

circles it’s a very, very
mad world
the day they feel good,
happy birthday.
that every child should,
sit and listen.

Went to school and

I was very nervous,

No one knew me –

no one knew me.

Hello teacher tell me
Looked right through me –

what’s my lesson,
looked right through me.

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


Meaning of the lyrics:
Actual lyrics are highlighted in red.
Taken from: />Contextually speaking, here is what the song writers say about their own song: (from Wikipedia)
Lyrically the song is pretty loose. It throws together a lot of different images to paint a picture without saying
anything specific about the world.
—Roland Orzabal

It's very much a voyeur's song. It's looking out at a mad world from the eyes of a teenager. [1]
—Curt Smith
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
-The familiar faces, worn out places, and worn out faces indicate that he has seen all their is to see, and that to
him (an adolescent, teen), all faces look the same, worn out and tired of life.
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
-The daily races are our lives, busy and hectic. The narrator conveys the meaning that everybody seems to
wake up bright and early, as if for a purpose, but in the end they go nowhere, because there is no purpose in
life.
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
-The tears fill up their glasses, and you can imagine the meaninglessness and bitterness they must feel, if they
are to drink their own tears, as the song indicates. To drink your own tears without expression is very extreme,
because sadness indicates that there is meaning in life, and something to be sad about, but no expression, and
no tomorrow, indicate that the narrator is indifferent, so worn down as to not even feel sad or angry, but rather
he would like to drown his sorrow.
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
- The funniness he talks about is a very dark emotion, it is a bitter, mocking type of funny that corresponds with
sadness. A sad type of funny. This is the way he feels about his life, because he dreams of dying, the only relief
from a meaningless life that contains no hope for feelings of purpose and fulfilment.
I find it hard to tell you
'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles

It's a very, very
Mad World
-The reason he finds it hard to tell you is because he is about to reveal the song's theme, it's ultimate message:
THERE IS NO MEANING IN LIFE. He doesn't find this hard to take, but what he DOES find hard to take is that
people are still willing to live, which he describes as "running in circles." A Mad World, is not an angry world, but
mad as in crazy, insane, meaningless.
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


The child stage is the most innocent of humans, and their desires are innocent, they just want to feel good, like
the type of happiness a child feels during his birthday. But also note that the narrator wants us to consider why
we as humans feel the need to celebrate the birth of our lives, which he views in an ironic tone, consistent with
the feeling of the song. "Happy birthday", and "sit and listen" are repeated twice, to sound mechanical, routine,
mundane, and ultimately meaningless. Even to sit and listen, to try and learn the meaning of life, is in a way,
meaningless.
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
-Remember, school is a social place, not just a place for learning. It is where humans interact. This is where he
is nervous, where he feels isolated, and alone. He is INSIGNIFICANT.
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
-The teacher is a figure of authority and knowledge, as well as wisdom. Although the teacher teaches lessons of
life, He/she looks right through the young narrator. Once again the narrator reminds us that we are Insignificant.
So what picture does this song portray?
A dark, mad world, with no purpose, very nihilistic.

Life is insane, because people pretend to live.
The themes:
Life is meaningless
Individuals are insignificant.
What is important about this song is that it is not a grown man who is lamenting life, but a young child, who feels
he has seen all there is to see, and has realized very early, that life is meaningless. He is lamenting this
realization, and in a way, has given up.

The following taken from: />
Causes in Teenage suicide
Teenage Suicide is not caused by any one factor, but likely by a combination of them. Depression can play a massive role
in teenage suicide. Some contributing factors include:
• Drug abuse
• Divorce of parents
• Parental unemployment
• Household financial problems
• Peer pressure
• Victim of bullying
• Social rejection
• Anger and Guilt
• Break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Loss of a limb, becoming blind, or deaf.
• Domestic violence or abuse
• Lack of success in exams at school
• Mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and schizophrenia
Depression is considered to be a highly common cause of suicide. About 75 percent of those individuals who commit
suicide are depressed. Depression is caused by a number of factors, from chemical imbalances to psychological make-up to
environmental influences.

Suicide prevention

Promoting overall mental health among adolescents is key to reducing possible suicidal thoughts. Some people argue that
limiting young people's access to lethal weapons, such as firearms, may be a pivotal deterrent. Some school-based youth
suicide awareness programs exist to try to increase high-school students' awareness of the problem, provide knowledge
about the behavioral characteristics of teens at risk, and describe available treatment or counseling resources. However,
some research has shown that this may have an unintended negative effect of suggesting suicide as an option for teenagers.

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocates taking suicide threats seriously. Seventy-five percent of all
suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.
A common treatment for a young, suicidal patient is a combination of drug-based treatment (e.g. imipramine or fluoxetine)
with a 'talking-based' therapy, such as referral to a cognitive behaviour therapist. This kind of therapy concentrates on
modifying self-destructive and irrational thought processes.
Lack of parental interest in their teenage children is a major factor in teenage suicide: according to one study 90 percent of
suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them.
In a crisis situation professional help can be sought, either at hospital or a walk-in clinic. There are also several telephone
help numbers for help on teenage suicide, depending on one's location (country/state). In the US, 1-800-SUICIDE will
connect you to the nearest support hotline. Sometimes emergency services can be contacted.
The following taken from: http: //www.yutopian.com/religion/theology/teenagersuicide.html

Reasons for Teen Suicide
It's not easy to be teen-agers nowadays. They are constantly confronted with new social roles, new relationships, and
having to get used to their body changes. Other issues include financial uncertainty, and fears of growing up. Thus feelings
of stress, confusion, self-doubt, and pressure to succeed can be overwhelming to teen-agers.
From a family point of view, the lack of parental interest may be another problem. In two income families, parents and kids
spend limited time together. Moreover, many children grow up in divorced households. The formation of a new family with
step-parents and step-siblings, or moving to a new community can be very unsettling and can lead to insecurity. Other teens
are faced with family alcoholism, domestic violence and even sexual abuse.
Other external factors include, the pressures of modern life; competition for good grades and college admission. Increasing

violence in the newspapers and on television lead to more teenage suicides. It's also easier to get the tools for suicide
nowadays. Suicide girl.com
And when the teen-agers are looking for answers to their problems, they found no one to talk to, making them feel quite
lonely.
For some teens, suicide may appear to be the only solution to their problems and stress mentioned above.

Facts about Teen Suicide
Suicide in youth often occurs after the victim has gotten into some sort of trouble or has experienced a recent
disappointment or rejection. For example, suffering a loss or humiliation of some kind, loss of self-esteem by doing poorly
on a test, the breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or the trauma of parents' divorce.
Young people who have attempted suicide in the past or who talk about suicide are at greater risk of future attempts.
Many of the symptoms of suicidal feelings are similar to those of depression.
Adolescents who consider suicide generally feel alone, hopeless and rejected. They are more vulnerable to having these
feelings if they parents with alcohol or drug problems, or have a family life affected by parental discord, disruptions,
separation or divorce. However, a teenager may be depressed and/or suicidal without any of these.
Teens who abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to consider, attempt or succeed at suicide than are non-abusers.
People who are depressed have altered levels of certain brain chemicals. Studies show that aggressive and impulsive people
who make violent suicide attempts have reduced amounts of serotonin, a key brain chemical.
Depression and the risk for suicide might have biological as well as psychological causes. A family history of suicide is a
significant risk factor in a young person.
Most everyone has normal mood swings and occasionally feels sad. But when that depressed mood lingers for more than
two weeks, serious depression could be setting in.
Adult women, who are physically or emotionally abused as children are more likely to have mental problems, suffer from
depression and are more likely to attempt suicide.

Warning Signs on Teen Suicide
•
•
•
•

•

a change in eating habits, gain weight or loss of appetite.
a change in sleeping habits, sleeping much more or have insomnia
withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
violent actions, rebellious behaviour, or running away
drug and alcohol use

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa


•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

teenage pregnancy
unusual neglect of personal appearance
fail to live up to his own or someone else's standards (when it comes to school grades, for example)?
dramatic personality change
persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, restless or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
feel hopeless or guilty, and that life is not worth living
sudden mood or behaviour changes: too quiet or too hyperactive
frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches,
fatigue, etc.
loss of interest in pleasurable activities
not tolerating praise or rewards
complain of being a bad person or feeling rotten inside
give verbal hints with statements such as: "I won't be a problem for you much longer", "Nothing matters",
"It's no use", "I won't see you again", and "I'd be better off dead".
give away favourite possessions, clean his or her room, throw away important belongings, etc.
become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression
have signs of psychosis (hallucinations or bizarre thoughts)
have trouble with a girlfriend (or a boyfriend)? Or have trouble getting along with other friends or with
parents?
write notes or poems about death.
talk about suicide. Say things like "I can't take it anymore," or "Nobody cares about me". Suicide girl.com

Created by Enid Venter – South Africa