Mad World is a very deep, heartfelt song that is sung by someone without some1 to talk to- his lot in life is not simple and to protect himself he has shut off his emotions, as have the people around him, unconsciously. No1 gets him, but no1 gets themselves. hes surrounded by ppl who he sees as dull and exhausted of the daily grind "up bright and early for the daily races, going nowhere....going nowhere". People are spend all there time running, but theyre running in circles the whole time, exhausting themselves for nothing. Always covering up "hide my head..." not facing themselves. "...l wanna drown my sorrow".
He finds it both funny and at the same time kind of sad how nothing means anything anymore. Its the culture, how, from childhood, we arent brought up to feel loved and special in the right way. Children instictively need to feel loved and listened to WITHOUT being smothered. In school, at home, there are always other people around and even the "perfect", popular kid or adult can get to feel invisible when they arent acting themselves.
To a lonely soul just going thru the motions, sometimes the worst thing that happens to people is the best for him- its like a drug: SWITCH IT UP, right? Ha. Bye.