Head Over Heels

Tears For Fears' 'Head Over Heels' is a song that captures the complexity of romantic emotions and the vulnerability that comes with falling in love. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning and the fear of unrequited feelings. The opening lines set a scene of wanting to be alone with the object of affection to engage in something as mundane as talking about the weather. This desire for simplicity is contrasted with the complexity of emotions and the 'traditions' that the singer can trace, which may refer to societal expectations or personal experiences that shape how they perceive love and relationships.

The chorus, 'Something happens and I'm head over heels,' encapsulates the sudden and overwhelming nature of falling in love. The phrase 'head over heels' is a common idiom that describes being completely enamored or in love to the point of being disoriented. The repetition of this line emphasizes the intensity of the singer's feelings. The plea 'Don't take my heart, don't break my heart, don't throw it away' reveals the vulnerability and the fear of having one's heart broken. The song suggests a deep desire for connection and intimacy, yet there's an underlying anxiety about the potential for heartache.

The bridge of the song introduces a shift in perspective, reflecting on the past and contemplating the future. The mention of family and the aspiration of becoming a doctor could symbolize the expectations placed upon the singer, and the struggle to reconcile these with their current emotional state. The line 'It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand' might be a metaphor for the pressure to conform to traditional masculine roles, which can be at odds with the experience of vulnerability in love. The song's outro, with its repeated 'la la-la la la,' serves as a soothing, almost whimsical contrast to the emotional turmoil expressed in the lyrics, perhaps suggesting a resignation to the whims of fate in matters of the heart.