The Working Hour

The song The Working Hour, with its 6 minutes and 29 seconds duration, arises from an idea that was born in 1984, while Tears For Fears was on tour presenting The Hurting. Drummer Manny Elias contributed a basic rhythmic pattern that he later shared with Roland Orzabal. From there, Orzabal took some chords that keyboardist Ian Stanley had saved, put lyrics to them, and developed the piece. For him, this song became a way to express the discomfort he felt at the idea of Tears For Fears becoming a business and the prospect of having to tour the world while so young.

The most striking thing about The Working Hour is that the version we hear is the only take that was made. Producer Ross Cullum simply placed a recorder nearby while the band played, which gives it a very live feel. This take was used directly for the album, without re-recording it in the studio. The song was completed in about half an hour, demonstrating a spontaneity that makes it stand out. This track is part of Songs From the Big Chair, the English band's second album, released in February 1985. Unlike the darker style of their debut, this album explored a more polished sound with a greater presence of guitars, incorporating socially and politically conscious themes in the lyrics of Orzabal and Stanley.