Dm
Scratch the ice
Let the telephone ring
Sense of time is a powerful thing
Bb Gm
And we love to laugh
Bb
Love to cry
C
Half alive We learn to
Dm
Go slow when we're dancing for rain
Dry skin flakes when there's ice in the veins
Bb Gm
And we love to cry
Bb C
Half alive
Dm Bb Dm Bb
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Dm Bb Gm Bb C
Dm
Scratch the earth
Dig the burial ground
Sense of time won't be easily found
Bb Gm
And ten out of ten
Bb C
For the ones who defend
Pretend to
Dm
Breakdown is a vital demand
We stand firm with our head in our hands
Bb Gm
Aa we love to cry
Bb C
Half alive
Dm
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Bb
I can't understand you.
Dm
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Bb
I can't understand you.
Dm
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Bb Gm Bb C
Break break
Dm Bb Gm Bb C
Dm
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Bb
I can't understand you.
Dm
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Bb
I can't understand you.
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
Is this the start of the breakdown?
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 to cry
Half alive
Is this the start of the breakdown?
I can't understand you
Is this the start of the breakdown?
Literary translation to Italian — faithful to the author's feeling, not singable.
Grattare ghiaccio
Lasciare suonare il telefono
Il senso del tempo è una cosa potente
E amiamo ridere
Amiamo piangere
A metà vivi
Amiamo
Andare lenti quando danziamo per la pioggia
Scaglie di pelle secca dove c'è ghiaccio nel sangue
E amiamo piangere
A metà vivi
Questo è l'inizio dello smembramento?
Grattare la terra
Scavare il cimitero
Il senso del tempo non sarà facilmente trovato
E dieci su dieci
Per chi difende
Fingere troppo
Lo smembramento è una richiesta finale
(Stiamo fermi con le teste tra le mani)
Come amiamo piangere
A metà vivi
Questo è l'inizio dello smembramento?
Non riesco a capire te
Questo è l'inizio dello smembramento?
Literary translation to Portuguese — faithful to the author's feeling, not singable.
Riscar o gelo
Deixe o telefone tocar
O senso de tempo é uma coisa poderosa
E nós amamos rir
Amamos chorar
Metade vivendo
Nós amamos
Andar devagar quando estamos dançando para a chuva
Escamas de pele seca onde há gelo na veia
E nós amamos chorar
Metade vivendo
Isso é o início da quebra?
Riscar a terra
Cavar o cemitério
O senso de tempo não será facilmente encontrado
E dez de dez
Para os que defendem
Mentir também
A quebra é uma demanda final
(Nós nos mantemos firmes com as cabeças nas mãos)
Enquanto amamos chorar
Metade vivendo
Isso é o início da quebra?
Eu não entendo você
Isso é o início da quebra?
From the album
The Hurting
Tears for Fears · 1983 · Track 0
The story behind
Tears for Fears released Start of the Breakdown on an album called The Hurting, which came out in 1983. The song lasts exactly five minutes and is part of an album that is considered a story, with heavy themes like the pain of childhood or sadness. Although the subject is dark, the song sounds good, with a melody that sticks in your head. The album was very popular in the UK and also reached the Top 40 in other countries. The song became a hit, and remains one of the group's most well-known songs.