Break The Man

Album: The Tipping Point (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Break The Man" is about a strong woman shattering the toxic masculinity that has spurred hatred and wars. Tears For Fears' Curt Smith wrote the patriarchy-bashing song, sparked by Donald Trump's four-year term as US president and the #MeToo movement.

    She's the fire and the fallout
    She reminds you of the things we never talk about
    She's the lover with the best-laid plan
    To break the man


    "It's a song about a woman who is strong enough to break the man," said Smith. "For me, that would be an answer to a lot of the problems in the world – a better male-female balance."
  • Smith wishes for a female leader who will be more emphatic than the alpha males that rule the roost. "I'm lucky to be in a family surrounded by strong women: my wife and daughters," he told NME. "Women have this calm wiseness about them that men don't, because we're too busy showing how big our dicks are most of the time. We saw so much of that with Trump in America: the idea of 'we are real men', and the trouble it caused."
  • Smith co-wrote the song with writer and producer Charlton Pettus (Rebecca Black's "My Moment," Hilary Duff's "Now You Know").
  • Smith and his Tears For Fears bandmate Roland Orzabal recorded the song for The Tipping Point, their first album in nearly 18 years. The record is a song cycle reflecting many of the personal and professional tipping points the pair and the world have faced throughout the previous 17 years.

Comments: 1

  • David Schofield from Houghton Le SpringIs the video inspired by the art of MC Escher?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.