The Cure - Killing an arab

[@williamf.buckleyjr3227]

I was 15 years old when I first heard this song. Now I'm 50. And it's still new.

[@milanm403]

No, it's not new. You need to listen something new and different. Your brain will shrink 😀.

[@mika-dg2bd]

Thé cure pour

[@destonlee2838]

We're right here.all of us. Right here

[@valentinasuarez9303]

im 15 rn lmaoo

[@Wouldyoujust_]

@@valentinasuarez9303 Just 5 years older than when I started listening to my mom's cassettes. Good taste kiddo❤

[@dropway9]

The Cure has always had an absolutely smoking bass guitar sound. They've had several players over their long career but the bass is always kicking.

[@weinhard961]

Okay

[@imaginarygirl0]

Thanks to Simon 🖤

[@brendans3817]

Not really. Simon mostly

[@ronsworld250]

Michael Dempsey, Simon Gallup, Phil Thornalley, and Simon again and going forward.

[@JJA_88]

See his open mouth but I hear no sound

[@aleksandramijailovic6705]

Mother died today. Or yesterday; I can't be sure

[@squidhater1641]

Not that it really matters anyways

[@andresnieto6946]

Aujourd'hui maman est mort. Ou peut-être hier, je ne sais pas. Like this is way much better

[@jsbhmm8232]

Did you have a cup of coffee and a cigarette?

[@far_away_rhys]

Just read this book today, I finally understand these comments.

[@battleostrich9144]

**MAMAN

[@OSTEDband]

I'm not a COVID-19 expert but this is The Cure

[@DogzDinette]

I’m stealing that line and using it before it’s too late....

[@antiscyllisneocht5669]

INFOWARS? Remember when Jerry Springer had a that Final Thought conclusive segment every show? Hire this guy and I'll watch it.

[@elsaalcala5486]

OSTED You right , amigo 🇲🇽

[@ottorinogentile5457]

The best antithood in Italy.

[@johannabuitrago5631]

The Cure por siempre, saludes desde Colombia

[@luckygitane]

I can't believe one of my favorite authors wrote a book based on one of my favorite songs 🙏🙏🙏

[@azzzzzzzraelllllll]

lmaoo

[@chucktheslut]

hahahahahahaha

[@peachyrose8537]

Cant believe one of my favorite bands made a song about one of my favorite books

[@pobbinista]

Me too. I remember reading the book and thinking that I knew the story from somewhere. Albert Camus L'Etranger. Have you also read La Peste?

[@2Eme-r3i]

@@pobbinistaI am French and I am absolutly atonished to see that so many foreign people know about this very classical masterpiece of French litterature

[@pobbinista]

@user-ll4ws8dv5y I used to live in Perpignan in the late 90s. I used to read French books to help me learn the language.

[@2Eme-r3i]

@@pobbinista That’s great ! Have you read any other classical books?

[@pobbinista]

I read Boule de Suif

[@gbvjon]

I was assigned "The Stranger" by Albert Camus in college, and I read it. My prof said if you lived your life by this philosophy you'd be a wreck. I swear that I got as much from this song as I got from the book, plus it rocked.

[@dukeon]

Might want to read the book again though, just for the end bit where Mersault is on trial. Inspired “The Wall” a bit, I think.

[@valentinvali9622]

His philosophy basically amounts to "you should enjoy life as much as possible cause it's absurd anyway". Your prof should read more Camus lol

[@dannyhightower911]

@@valentinvali9622 Its more than that. And no, I bet the proffesor knew more Camus than you did. And Camus was not a particularly happy person.

[@valentinvali9622]

@@dannyhightower911 of course it's more than that lmao. I just tried to sum it up in a short dumbed-down phrase. But it's definitely not something that would turn you into "a wreck" if you live by it. If Camus wasn't a happy person that doesn't mean that his philosophy is to be unhappy.

[@gbvjon]

Didn't mean to turn this into a "continental fiction" debate, which I think was the class during which I was assigned this novel. I still maintain that my PhD Northwestern University professor likely had a valid opinion. I don't claim to be an expert on existentialism. I dig the Cure. I have an autographed poster in my basement.

[@michaeltorres492]

My stepdad from Mexico showed me this song when I was in about 2nd grade. Loved it ever since. Thanks Lalo

[@JMarieCAlove]

I had an uncle named Lalo but he lived in central California and played the saxophone, I’m not sure he heard of the Cure though lol.. he was a cool guy. 😁

[@maxthebat_]

The Cure - Killing an Arab Standing on the beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the Arab on the ground I can see his open mouth But I hear no sound I'm alive, I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I can turn And walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I chose It amounts to the same Absolutely nothing I'm alive, I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I feel the steel butt jump Smooth in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring at myself Reflected in the eyes Of the dead man on the beach The dead man on the beach I'm alive, I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab

[@ab1r741]

@@chanjackie2299 ??

[@adinocc2042]

Cheers, mate!

[@em7dim9]

@@ab1r741 Don't feed the trolls.

[@Culture45]

I can turn and walk away or rapid fire on the gun sounds cooler brah

[@brunostefani9845]

Albert CAMUS "L'étranger"

[@SammyHannat]

Just a heads up, this song is based off of "The Stranger" by nobel prize winning Albert Camus where the main character is a French Algerian who kills an arab on the beach after his mother's funeral

[@ausundvorbei1]

+Sammy Hannat - merci beaucoup ! That is the reality , so it was the Mr Hollande`Goverment that apologiest ( demander pardon) to the all Algerians - 55 years later. By the way, the Cure-Frontman,Mr Shmiths is gay - so i am same NO MORE HATECRIME IN THIS WORLD - EVEN IN WORDS LIKE HERE ARE PRESENTED FROM .mc donalds James Orlando Andrew Chase and Donald Trumps

[@francescomasala702]

+Sammy Hannat Most of the people commenting with racist shit probably never opened a book in their lives, not to mention Albert Camus books.

[@ausundvorbei1]

+Luca Argenti doesnt mater, some1 is gay or not, in Greatbritten promotion for hommosexuel-livestyle was illegal, in fakt Jimmy Sommervil songs .

[@marmalade4sunrise]

we could apply themes of The Stranger to the way present day people overreact to this song...I wrote an essay in college about the attitude of the jury who assume things about the man because of what he did, they just assume, and people are so knee jerk these days, they also don't take into consideration the meaninglessness of the actions of a person suffering a mental break down, or alternate explanations which aren't "that's racist"

[@AH-mq2zu]

cool

[@JDeissreVIEWSFROMHELL]

The Stranger is such an amazing book

[@Metal_Health_Worker]

+J. Deiss by?

[@midnightdive]

+Marian-David Wolff Albert Camus.

[@ksof8790]

Yes it is 💕

[@ywchyzkxqlxp]

+Sand Wichfeet Have you tried this book? it´s very good and an easy read

[@dmf41]

+J. Deiss remarkable, short, honest, absurd book. I had the good fortune of having it as part of my high school French class. The teacher was a brilliant Haitian ex-pat who didn't seem to mind that we were only 16. That same year, in English class, we read "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles... the less said about that the better.

[@blinkspacestudio8892]

Reminds me of that black cassette tape I my sister had. I listened to it non stop when I was a kid. What a freaking amazing band, still to this day. Its probably been over 30years since I heard this song and I rattled it off like it was yesterday lol

[@amers83]

People will take what they want from this song. It can't be helped. Just keep in mind this is Robert at 19 (Sep.20,1978) giving artistic expression to one of his favorite books. The band were all teenagers at the time with what I doubt to be cruel intentions.

[@pkg996]

Exactly. Times were very different then. Funny how it's all changed...not :( Nevertheless,an excellent song.

[@davidbentley4032]

Most 19 year olds these days are playing video games, texting, or getting pissed out of their skulls. I doubt that more than 0.1% of them have even heard of 'L'Etranger' never mind read it.

[@xltsalad8100]

David Bentley ok boomer

[@mooks500]

@@davidbentley4032 we read it in school though

[@chanjackie2299]

title of the song :more true than ever, we should do it !

[@joesmobody5152]

Listened to this just because it was banned from Spotify.

[@trooper1024]

Me too! Hahahaha

[@heatherdavis3450]

What's crazy is there is a cover of this song on Spotify by The Reign but they banned the original by The Cure like what the heck

[@user-rl2gy5yd9d]

Brittany Davis I just looked and it’s there now

[@tonym.villacruzvillacruz5728]

Wtf r u kidding? Pathetic!

[@dannyherrera1598]

They do have this song on spotify but its a live version.... I couldnt find it for months but I found it a few days ago

[@openplz3000]

One of the first cure songs i heard. Still love them

[@pinku708]

This song has the coolest bass line I’ve heard.

[@NocturnalLovers]

I have always loved this bass line too!!!

[@VioladorDeLaLey21]

Greatest bass line to me!

[@viachicago]

Great bass line. Give this bass solo a listen, also great (starts at 1:36). kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaKmZYmuadVlmJosi=EJIJXRJRu0Gyi2Ty

[@viachicago]

Another great bass in the song The Tower by Wye Oak, though it’s a lead instrument in this case (solo starts at the one minute thirty-six second mark). kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaKmZYmuadVlmJosi=EJIJXRJRu0Gyi2Ty

[@Mr.-Mister-Esquire-Esq.]

It feels based on traditional Persian chord progression. The fact that Smith played his guitar recreating a sitar reverb he was going for that particular feel

[@dfk09]

I think Robert Smith was inspired by the book, The Stranger, by Albert Camus. I just finished reading that book a couple of weeks ago. In that book, the main character killed an Arab man. The book also makes frequent references to the sun and the beach.

[@reddays8448]

Robert said it’s about the book

[@caseytins]

This song is a complete reference to the Camus novel. One of the greatest writers ever!

[@dfk09]

@@caseytins I agree. I read another one of his books this year, The Plague.

[@cassandraesparza6107]

I noticed this too when I was in my high school English class over 20 years ago!!! I pointed it out to my teacher and she asked me to share it with the class :)

[@doomcat.]

I think it's a common knowledge

[@politicalcartoonist]

I read Camus 14 years old. I was in a cure pen pal chain from Creem magazine I collected rare pics of Robert Smith. I had cure posters on my wall in 7th grade. I painted my nails the cure. The year is 2018 and I still love this song. That's a good song.

[@talkshowhost3512]

there is no way someone can understand camus at year 14

[@grottydog]

“political cartoons for donald trump”

[@CursorLucullus]

For people who are offended by the title. I am Arab and when I saw the title I was shocked but I get information and music is not racist .. she is from a book

[@CursorLucullus]

Excessivement attaché a une certaine morale ? C'est à dire ?

[@CursorLucullus]

***** Ça a l'air pas mal, je le prendrais a l'occasion. Merci du conseil ;)

[@DonutUnderpants]

Oui oui! She is from ze book, ohn hon hon! Haha. I'm sorry.

[@DonutUnderpants]

PrepperWorkShop Dafuq?

[@plainpizza7935]

Daddy Junky Maghribi, mish kedda?

[@MikeBurkard]

Robert Smith has said that the song "was a short poetic attempt at condensing my impression of the key moments in L'Étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus" (Cure News number 11, October 1991). It has nothing to do with current events... >.

[@adrewsona]

Classic case of 'no symbols where none intended'

[@bright1948light]

And I am NOT justifying terrorism, because it is a vicious circle, you only get what you give. Peace for all

[@taragragg400]

Mike Burkard They are so literal.

[@Your_loved-123]

The cure is timeless.. I first saw them in concert 25 years ago to see a relatively unknown band at the time called Interpol. There are some things in life that I will never forget and that concert is one of them.

[@seanod7157]

I love that Camus is being discussed online. Maybe there is hope for the future.

[@sirgloster9216]

+Konig Corvus He's been discussed for some time now. Nothing has changed though.

[@steffclarke1]

An essentially solipsistic worldview negates the need for the concept of a monotheistic god figure when that perspective is one's own

[@alexejsil8585]

wow that's quite an ill-formulated statement you make there on behalf of Camus... hope?! Have you even read his oeuvre? :D He argues for pragmatic atheism and the whole point of absurdism is to depict the dire insufficiency and meaningless all-consuming void of terms like hope, faith, existential compliance etc. wtf man... as a matter of fact, the absurd is described as an immutable pillar and likewise consequence of flawed and incomplete human nature. The highest degree of liberty and scope of action can only be accessed if one accepts the absurd in order to revolt subseqeuntly against any pseudo-meaningful bullshit there is... by doing so, one never gets stuck, one never loses faith cuz there's simply none left. Basically, he's not even an existentialist or atheist given that he's neither a disbeliever ( ergo he does not believe that there is no god) nor a believer - his thoughts were pragmatically individualistic while establishing a sense of collectively shared basis of existential hardship we all face and encounter no matter were we are on this wretched world. There is no need for fancy self-righteous ideas, a helping divine hand or crypto-nationalist approaches... it's tragically ridiculous... everytime I look around seing what goes down here and there in our postmodern, postfactual and postsecular world. Why don't we heed 20th century thinkers, who were all to wary of what risks such narrow-mindedness entails? Human tragedy is alive and kicking again as we grow week instead of growing strong. We favor cushy, safe and shiny dependence (ideationally and materialisticially) over the uncanny night of lucidity and independence. wtf is that. Stop slaggin and kick up some existential riots. I'm not done with this world yet

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

Don't get your hopes up.

[@jacobrheaume1]

there is not.

[@skawteebee]

Just started reading The Stranger the other day, read this scene this morning and immediately thought of the song. Never put two and two together until now, but have always loved this song!

[@sanchezcynthiacs]

Never thought times would be as crazy as they are today. I feel at peace when I listen to The Cure.

[@CosmicContrarian]

Turn up bass on your headphones, enjoy! :D

[@pseudohipSTAR90]

Simon Gallup, man!

[@mitchelwalsh5356]

Nice to see you here.

[@carlofonovs9835]

that was actually Micheal Dempsey's bass

[@chanjackie2299]

title of the song :more true than ever, we should do it !

[@winstonsmiththx1138]

@@chanjackie2299 and the Jews as well, since we are giving out stupid opinions.

[@chriskay284]

First time I saw them they played this, the guitar sound seemed to echo and bounce round the theatre, really uncanny and I still remember it.

[@ihopethisusernameisa]

It's made by a guitar pedal called chorus or something

[@TraitofSiNN727]

I had a craving of listening to this song at full blast on my stereo...classic single from The Cure...I can hear this and A Forest over and over again...

[@simonrecardo4249]

I play this song all the time and I play the cure music often,,, The Cure is Brilliant, ok Everyone ❤❤❤

[@SuperSTARWARS4ever]

I love THE CURE They were and still cutting edge for alternative music

[@MaxOrtega99]

The Cure is my favorite band of the 80's, also was my best friend's favorite band. In 2019 The Cure came to Mexico and I invited my best friend to the concert, it was sublime for us to hear Robert Smith playing his greatest hits 2 hours (me and my friend always dreamed of seeing The Cure live). A few months later he died in a motorcycle accident; I miss him so much, I feel alone without him. So, every time I want to be with my friend, I listen to The cure and remind all the great times we lived together talking, drinking and listening to this. R.I.P friend, someday we'll see us again.

[@dancorcoran7883]

"And each successive shot was another loud, fateful rap on the door of my undoing."

[@davidbentley4032]

One of the greatest lines in literature, and the novel is full of them.

[@JandJandJandJandJ]

I didn't know Smith read Camus. Damn, two of my favorite artists.

[@mickwayne3398]

There's another Cure song based on Baudelaire's poem "Les Yeux des Pauvre".

[@Busearslanogullari]

I m shocked too! :d

[@kelechi_77]

A lot of post-punk took from philosophy and art. Existentialism is one of the driving motifs and themes of the genre.

[@headpump]

Albert Camus was an existentialist writer active in the 1950s, post WWII. Another powerful novel is 'The Plague'..

[@TheDirectMessenger88]

This Comment section; 50% ITS NOT RACIST. GET INFORMED 50% The Stranger is a good book 0% Hey, The Cure was pretty good for a first single.

[@chaiTV]

nobody asked for it, but thanks anyway I guess, for your statistical analysis of the comments

[@pawec8137]

at least the comment providing statistics about other comments is more than 0%

[@ElCameronDormido]

back when this song came out we weren't sensitive snowflakes like kids are now

[@adamtolley5621]

@@ElCameronDormido yet you wine all the fucking time

[@ElCameronDormido]

@@adamtolley5621 soy boy alert!

[@jackiem.dearroyo8739]

I love love love the Cure! My favorite for 40 years!

[@LukeDrake-n9n]

When i frist heard this cure song i was hooked . Went off to see the cure 5 times live. I still listen to them today and im 56 the cures music will never die.

[@scottbeck9385]

My favorite Cure song. Just their very best song.

[@indigojones8]

I was aware of The Cure in the early '80s and knew of this song and their comments about how it wasn't anti-arab. Decades later, I finally read The Stranger and had a new take on the book and the song. Love it even more now. Fantastic to hear/read the lines and recognize them and read them in context.

[@johnwhoissavedbygrace9975]

I hadn’t heard this song since I was a kid listening to my dads albums. Just woke up when it was a focal part of a dream I had. First thing I did was open KZbin and listened. Still an absolutely great song

[@guillermoraulesttamatti8255]

En mis 15 años, y ahora en los 47 años, jamás voy a dejar de escuchar este magnífico grupo musical.. por siempre the Cure...

[@aliedator8638]

Same dudee, that Quality is so Bad

[@susannebuchholz785]

What a timeless masterpiece!I das them first live in Berlin 1987.Absolutely great!🤘🏻💜

[@americummins4048]

When I was in high school a kid was wearing The Cure shirt and some metalheads said they sucked so o never listened to them back since 2008 I came across this song yesterday and it’s badass!!

[@albertodiazhernandez6428]

More than 40 years of this song and as fresh as The Cure is !

[@vonsopas]

"Aujourd’hui, maman est morte..."

[@Satz_ui]

Magnifique

[@michka841]

Wsh ma daronne est crevée mais balek

[@woody5831]

Bought this when it came out & saw them couple of times in 1979 supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees & double headline with WIRE great days

[@ikatsumiidi3702]

It's been years and years that I haven't heard this song , love it!!!

[@ddsgabo]

One of their best songs. I was 15 when this album came out. I'm 50 now.

[@mandyworthington24]

I read Camus's book every year..it grounds me, it gives you so much to think about..whilst answering all your questions. ❤

[@michaelpergola5106]

This like so many Cure songs is a work of art!

[@heatherhorner1747]

I read "The Stranger" by writer/philosopher Albert Camus in junior high, years ago. What are the kids reading now? The theme is existentialism, not racism. Pick up a book, read, form your own opinion.

[@Erwin.Clayton]

+Heather Horner JR HIGH?!?

[@heatherhorner1747]

+John Morley hmmm, it was so long ago, but it actually must have been high school. 10th grade-ish

[@Erwin.Clayton]

lol i see...ya i taught middle school for a bit & none of those kids were ready to open themselves to the gentle indifference of the world!

[@sharpvonl201]

The theme is the absurd not existentialism although hey are similar. read the sister book to it, the myth of sisyphus.

[@albertcamus9338]

I remember I read mine in 8th Grade.

[@a-match-made-in-heaven]

My first single ever (and Cure's)! Still love that song!!!

[@xanarchy1296]

Wow my parent always said the cure was a amazing band..for now on I’m going to trust them a lot more 👏🏼

[@avacherry3618]

Why would anyone who actually read the book 'The Stranger ' think this song is racist? Absurd ! The main character had absolutely no bias or judgement whatsoever. He was so alienated he wanted to feel something. Only at his execution did he wish that he heard 'howls of execration'

[@corvidox]

*THAT **_BEAUTIFUL_** BASS*

[@AdamX21198]

That moment where you accidentally stumble upon a song you've heard before that you really liked and never knew you'd find it out of nowhere.

[@chanjackie2299]

title of the song :more true than ever, we should do it !

[@Damhod]

if i think of my childhood , i think of the cure :) my mother teached me good music .

[@fugopilled]

as an arab i can confirm this killed me

[@thebookwormdiaries]

Discovered this song back in high school, and just got to reading Camus. I feel so left behind.

[@mohtashimnizamani]

Heyy, we are friends on Facebook. I've just seen your comment. Cool.

[@kleverly7772]

[LYRICS] I'm standing on the beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sky Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the Arab on the ground I can see his open mouth But I hear no sound I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I can turn And walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I chose It amounts to the same Absolutely nothing I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I feel the steel butt jump Smooth in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring at myself Reflected in the eyes Of the dead man on the beach The dead man on the beach I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab

[@BerniceHenry-t7v]

My cousin gave me this album Thankyou Ngairetta xxx

[@baronessVanDerHeyden]

LOVE 🥰The Cure timeless song 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@LauraLosapio]

Please STOP out of context comments!!! This song is based upon the book letranger by nobel prize albert camus. And its title is due to the fact that the protagonist lives in a northern africa country, where arab populations live, and he kills an arab. Should the protagonist have lived on planet mars, it would have been: killing a martian. This is just to let you understand ONCE AND FOR ALL that THIS IS NOT A ISLAMOPHOBIC AND NOT A PROZIONIST SONG!!! The novel and the song speak about HUMAN ALIENATION, so they are EXISTENTIALIST works of art!!!! Please do not trade art with politics!!!

[@yugong6812]

How do you think zionisms is anti Arab in any way 💀💀💀

[@Snoweee2]

@@yugong6812 zionism is anti arab and anti muslim. educate yourself

[@yugong6812]

@@Snoweee2 there are many Arab and Muslim Israelis who even fight for Zionism what’s your point?

[@yugong6812]

@@Snoweee2 just shows you don’t know what Zionism actually means

[@Snoweee2]

@@yugong6812 theres not a single arab that fights for zionism stop being delusional

[@Saiege]

Played this at the bar the other night! My favorite song from that album

[@thedivineherself]

Listening to this as a kurd hits different

[@TheBroncobeliever]

This is playing nonstop in Gaza right now.

[@Dovelunalove]

you’re sick.

[@Xcandysays]

My father showed me this song some time ago. I read camus' book and then i thought of this song so i came here to see if it really is any connection and i'm glad

[@scottpeck4432]

My ultimate favorite Cure Song

[@romosh79]

The song has nothing to do with Arabs, it's an allegorical reference to Albert Camus' novel The Stranger, where the protagonist Meursault kills an Arab on an Algerian beach for no apparent reason. Meursault, "The Stranger," then reinterprets the event to diminish responsibility and protect himself from psychological harm. It's about suppression and denial.

[@gegeartbuzz350]

Meursault - one of great vintage (wine speaking) !!!!!

[@lusiphercain887]

wrong its about arabs taking over the liquor stores and other bissness's in the u.s. thats why robert smith moved to the u.k.

[@idan-1387]

What? this is not a book about denial. This is not why Camus wrote the book.

[@DanielJohnson1972]

I agree,the media,and gov't are conglomerates, that incite fear,and uncertainty at times to control the masses,I rather be an original thinker,than most of the sheep out their! I never read the book,but it seems interesting!

[@idan-1387]

..

[@elcallado6790]

Omg! ❤️ Nunca habia escuchado esta BELLEZA! 🤘🔥 LA CURA.. ES THE CURE!!❤️🖤🥁🎸🎸🎸🔥

[@CrazyBlackMidget]

one of my favorite Cure songs

[@NoMoreDepression]

"I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I'd been happy, and that I was happy still. For all to be accomplished, for me to feel less lonely, all that remained to hop was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that they should greet me with howls of execration." --the last three sentences of the novel (English trans., Random House)

[@wodawkwas]

Masterpiece!I wish I could live a day in 80's or 50's.Also I am so so sad that my friends don't know who is Elvis Presley and they told me that The cure is a cosmetic-brand.😩

[@shawnflynn1713]

Your friends suck. Hehehe.

[@guyclone2651]

The cure was off the wall looking in the 80's...they were like poets and artists....and the new wavers were flocking to their concerts...the 80's was the best time for music...The cure....then we had heavy metal....rock and roll....it was a free for all! smoking clove cigarettes from Jakarta...guys were wearing makeup..better than the 60's,,,,50's....70's... maybe the roaring 20's could give the 80's a run.

[@elpiwate1999]

This song makes the book alive. I can see the beach where Meursault is standing, feel the unbearable heat of the sun, and the reflection of the knife.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

Robert Smith said the song "was a short poetic attempt at condensing my impression of the key moments in the 1942 novel L'Étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus". The lyrics describe a shooting on a beach, in which the Arab of the title is killed by the song's narrator; in Camus' story the protagonist, Meursault, shoots an Arab on a beach, overwhelmed by his surroundings. Meursault is condemned for his honesty about his feelings. He is considered an outsider (or "stranger") because "he refuses to lie" and "doesn't play the game".

[@CacoExplosivo]

i wish this version was on spotify

[@ticks4ticks4]

True! Thanks for pointing this out! Also, " L’Étranger " which, in French, translates to: "The Stranger"---has been translated to an English language very his Camus' novel, "The Stranger". Camus also wrote another existentialist novel, "The Plague". I read Camus' " L’Étranger" in French, in 1996 in AP French class!

[@CharlieSpencers]

How comes this sounds excellent whereas the version on Spotify sounds like it was recorded on a wired lemon?

[@scrawnymf]

true haha

[@Watcher4111]

Streaming sucks. Only cd

[@shayg76-n2t]

One of the best I really like the Cure especially I like this song Because of his lyrics

[@viajeastral2188]

Realmente RS es un genio, y es un ejemplo a seguir. Claro que primero hay que leer buenos libros y lo demás es solo cuestión de paciencia

[@dickyboyryw]

It was written way back in 78 by lads of 17 or 18. With no particular negative intention torwards any race. Trying to link opinions about the Paris massacre, Iraq or Syria for that matter, are a waste of time. It's just a pop song.

[@OVI-Wan-Kenobi-8]

It's a punk song, NOT a pop song.

[@wieskegeluk6546]

+OVI-Wan Kenobi its alternative rock but in that time that was the pop music

[@espada9]

+Richie Y-W : It was based off the book called "The stranger" read the book and you'll understand the lyrics. It is NOT advocating the killing of Arabs like so many dumb people claim.

[@robertgalloway4669]

Punk not pop

[@waltdefucq6106]

Exactly right. It's such a shame if this song is still an albatross round the neck of the Cure, as it was when I was a teen (I'm now mid-40s).

[@6yny6ter6]

Wtf I'm 16 and I dont understand why people say this is bad music. This is absolutely amazing

[@NouveauArtPunk]

intense tune, love that guitar riff at the beginning

[@AstoriaHeard]

This was the first Cure song I ever heard, back in 1992-ish, and from the very first bar, I knew I’d found something amazing. Here I am, so many years & lifetimes later in 2019, and that same first few seconds of this song STILL gives me chills. ☺️🏆💓🙌🏽🦄🎀💋 Also, I had this album on cassette tape, and on the B Side was a whole other “album” of songs I can’t seem to find anywhere ever since. More instrumental, or experimental kind of, but SO SO good. Anybody know what I’m referring to?! Love to all... XxxooO n

[@sampollard8775]

My favourite book ever. And the song captures it perfectly

[@sebster4]

One of the best instrumentals for such a underrated band. And for being a first single, this really slaps.

[@chelseamcgeary1825]

Underrated? I don’t know about that.

[@steve261brown]

Underrated mmmm 😂

[@u.7965]

listening to this as an Arab hits different

[@katalepsykills]

I wonder how the Boy with the Arab Strap hits.

[@LangThoughts]

This song has such an exhilarating and energizing title!

[@Twitch-gw3ww]

This is a 🎯 hit song..😊

[@markanderson4094]

Rob Smith is a class Act a British legend

[@NEALPUCCISWEDEN]

love this band they have so many great songs ....................

[@RaoulDukeSr]

Incredible band on every level !

[@philc4520]

Wicked bass playing. Drives the whole song.

[@Itzsfo0]

i love the harmonic guitar solo (minor)

[@maneshezra7182]

Simon Gallop is an underrated bassist

[@joevaughan818]

Manesh Ezra this wasn't Simon it was Michael something from the cures early days

[@maneshezra7182]

Joe Vaughan Thanks for the info!

[@charlsie5917]

Phil C the bass makes me moist loves it

[@VADORT]

Thank u the cure for this amazing music so deep so dark and powerfull

[@britt-janneolsen689]

The CURE IS THE BEST 🖤🤩🤘🤘🤘

[@MakayaGemini3]

This was one of my jams in school back in the 80's and as well when I went to Kuwait during Desert storm. Was super fun jamming it! Although I do know it's actually quite the contrary.

[@lilianafranco7233]

Rayos .. Los descubrí en los 80 y es maravilloso oírlos de nuevo con un click!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yo clickeo Tu clickeas Nosotros clickeamos Jejeje

[@karenbittner6979]

What can I say but pure magic from Robert and the boys

[@bbpoltergeist5408]

Standing on the beach with a gun in my hand staring at the sea staring at the sand staring down the barrel at the arab on the ground i can see his open mouth but i hear no sound I'm alive i'm dead i'm the stranger killing an arab I can turn and walk away or i can fire the gun staring at the sky staring at the sun whichever i chose it amounts to the same absolutely nothing I'm alive i'm dead i'm the stranger killing an arab I feel the steel butt jump smooth in my hand staring at the sea staring at the sand staring at myself reflected in the eyes of the dead man on the beach the dead man on the beach I'm alive i'm dead i'm the stranger killing an arab

[@chanjackie2299]

title of the song :more true than ever, we should do it !

[@adiyeet9872]

​@@chanjackie2299even more true now

[@vampyra1453]

This was my introduction to The Stranger and Camus in general. Good book, highly recommend especially for the short length.

[@acatzinteotla6208]

Grande The Cure y grande Camus, ya que sin uno ni otro está rola quizás no existiera...