The song was released as the first single from the band's 1985 album The Head on the Door and was a big international success. In the UK, it was the band's ninth chart single and their fourth consecutive Top 20 hit; while in the US it was their first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 99. It was a Top 20 hit in Australia and New Zealand and also charted in several European countries, increasing the popularity of the band.
Music
The song is poppy and upbeat, featuring strummed acoustic guitars under a snappy synthesizer riff, although the song's lyrical themes of aging, loss and fear do not particularly reflect the upbeat tempo of the music. It features a distinctive drum intro by Boris Williams and a bass line reminiscent of "Dreams Never End" by New Order. The extended version, only released on the 12" single in North America, features quite a longer introduction to the song.
Title
The spacing and punctuation in the title of this song is widely disputed, as it varies between "In Between Days", "Inbetween Days", and "In-Between Days" on many official Cure releases. The single used "In Between Days", whereas the album The Head on the Door uses "In Between Days" on the back of the album cover and the record label, and "Inbetween Days" on the inner sleeve. However, the CD release of the album also uses "In Between Days" on the actual disc.
The 1986 singles compilation Standing on a Beach uses both "In Between Days" and "In-Between Days", whereas the 1990 remix album Mixed Up, the 1993 live album Show, the 2001 Greatest Hits collection and the 2004 B-sides compilation Join the Dots each use "Inbetween Days". The 2006 re-release of The Head on the Door uses "Inbetween Days" on the back of the box and the track listing in the booklet, but it uses "In Between Days" as the title in the lyrical portion of the book.
A similar inconsistency is present with The Cure's "Lovesong", as it is listed as a single compound word in some instances and two separate words ("Love Song") in others.
Released 15 July 1985
Format 7" and 12" vinyl
Recorded 1985 at Angel Studios, London, England
Genre New wave, alternative rock
Length
2:57 (7") 4:00 (12")
Label Fiction
Writer(s) Robert Smith
Producer(s) Robert Smith (musician)
Inbetween Days
The Cure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt like I could die
Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry
Go on go on
Just walk away
Go on go on
Go on go on
And disappear
Go on go on
Away from here
And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn´t be me and be her
Inbetween
Without you
Without you
Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child
Yesterday away from you
It froze me deep inside
Come back come back
Don´t walk away
Come back come back
Come back today
Come back come back
Why can´t you see?
Come back come back
Come back to me
And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn´t be me and be her
Inbetween
Without you
The lyrics of The Cure's song "Inbetween Days" express a deep sense of despair and desperation. The singer reflects on advancing age and the fear of losing someone special. The first two lines "Yesterday I got so old, I felt like I could die", captures the melancholic tone of the song, and the repetition of "Yesterday I got so old, it made me want to cry" adds to the sense of resignation and longing.
The chorus is simple but impactful, as the singer pleads with the person who has walked away to come back: "Come back, come back, don't walk away, come back today, come back to me". The lines that follow, "And I know I was wrong when I said it was true, that it couldn't be me and be her, in-between without you" suggest that the singer has made mistakes and pushed away the person he cares about, but realizes that he needs them to be happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I got so old
Feeling aged and worn out, as though life is close to its end
I felt like I could die
Feeling an overwhelming sense of mortality and fragility
Yesterday I got so old
Reiterating the idea of feeling incredibly aged and exhausted
It made me want to cry
Feeling an intense emotional upheaval, leading to tears
Go on go on
Encouraging someone to leave and move on with their life
Just walk away
Leaving a situation or relationship behind for good
Your choice is made
Accepting that the other person has made a decision to leave
And disappear
Vanishing from sight and cutting all ties
Away from here
Moving far away from the current place or situation
And I know I was wrong
Admitting to making a mistake in the past
When I said it was true
Believing that a lie or deception was true at the time
That it couldn´t be me and be her
Realizing that one cannot have both oneself and another person equally, without conflict
Inbetween
Caught between two conflicting desires or loyalties
Without you
Knowing that the other person's absence is critical to the conflict and struggle
Yesterday I got so scared
Feeling deeply frightened, like a helpless child
I shivered like a child
Responding physically with a trembling, vulnerable reaction
Yesterday away from you
Reiterating the previous idea of the other person's crucial role in the emotional turmoil
It froze me deep inside
Feeling emotionally paralyzed and unable to move forward
Come back come back
Pleading with the other person to return
Don´t walk away
Begging for the other person to stay and not abandon the artist
Come back come back
Reiterating the desire for the other person to come back
Come back today
Desiring the other person to return immediately, without delay
Come back come back
Once again, imploring the other person to return
Why can´t you see?
Expressing confusion and disbelief at the other person's reluctance to return
Come back come back
One final plea for the other person to come back
Come back to me
Stressing the importance of the other person returning to the singer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert James Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sagitohayon4568
Yesterday I got so old
I felt like I could die
Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry
Go on, go on, just walk away
Go on, go on, your choice is made
Go on, go on, and disappear
Go on, go on away from here
And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her
In between without you
Without you
Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child
Yesterday away from you
It froze me deep inside
Come back, come back
Don't walk away
Come back, come back
Come back today
Come back, come back
What can't you see?
Come back, come back
Come back to me
And I know I was wrong
When I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her
In between without you
Without you
Without you
@elreytilin6993
Lyrics:
Yesterday I got so old
I felt like I could die
Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry
Go on, go on, just walk away
Go on, go on, your choice is made
Go on, go on and disappear
Go on, go on away from here
And I know I was wrong when I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her in between
Without you
Without you
Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child
Yesterday, away from you
It froze me deep inside
Come back, come back, don't walk away
Come back, come back, come back today
Come back, come back, why can't you see?
Come back, come back, come back to me
And I know I was wrong when I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her in between
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
@q2breath
The Cure
Yesterday I got so old,
I felt like I could die,
Yesterday I got so old,
It made me want to cry
Go on, go on,
Just walk away
Go on, go on,
Your choice is made
Go on, go on,
And disappear
Go on, go on,
Away from here
And I know I was wrong,
When I said it was true,
That it couldn't be me,
And be her in between,
Without you,
Without you
Yesterday I got so scared,
I shivered like a child,
Yesterday away from you,
It froze me deep inside,
Come back, come back,
Don't walk away,
Come back, come back,
Come back today,
Come back, come back,
Why can't you see
Come back, come back,
Come back to me,
And I know I was wrong,
When I said it was true,
That it couldn't be me,
And be her in between,
Without you,
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
@BizzyJ1987
Robert Smith has got to have one of the most beautiful voices in music ever
@redskies4530
Hi I recommend a song called 'The Bond Villain' By Robert Nix
@jacob6908
Honestly would be better if he didnt sing.
@nathalysayurimedinat4565
@@redskies4530bloi😅Good.😊nnnmk9ku😮iimnýyýyyýyy6ýyhyyyhmnyhg8
@mukiribu
I feel like crying when I see how quickly the years go by. This is a masterpiece...
@bf2852
You are so right,,, I feel exactly the same,,, stay safe 😊
@scottranger8909
Ugh I’m with you on that one
@bf2852
@@scottranger8909 very good
@bf2852
🙂🙂🙂
@russellmahon6847
I remember feeling as if I was being transported to a beautiful place when I first listened to this as a young man. And it still does. Just now I’m in my 60’s. Not my 20’s. But the magic’s still the same.