In the aftermath of the bleak Pornography, Robert Smith returned from a month-long detox in the Lake District to write the antithesis to what The Cure currently represented. Written as a sarcastic reflection on sexual imagery in pop music, the single was a surprise hit. It was most successful in Australia, reaching #15.
History
The origins of "Let's Go to Bed" lie in "Temptation", one of the demos for Pornography. The song is a relatively upbeat, guitar-driven instrumental. In August 1982, soon after Simon Gallup's departure from the band, Smith demoed a vocal version of the track, entitled "Temptation Two", a psychedelic piece not far removed from the Pornography album but somewhat lighter in tone. At the end of the song, Smith sings a string of wordless syllables, nearly identical to the "doo doo doo"s of the later song. The final version was debuted on Kid Jensen's radio show on 27 November 1982.
Robert Smith has often stated that he wished its b-side, the darker "Just One Kiss" (also first performed during the session) was released as a single.
The song was covered by New York pop band Ivy for their 2002 album "Guestroom". The video for the cover features a brief appearance by The Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, also known for his love for, and his own covers of, The Cure. Los Angeles rock band The Dreaming have also covered this song.The hook was also sampled by Rihanna in her song S&M
Released 15 November 1982
Format 7", 12"
Genre New Wave
Length 3:33
Label Fiction Records
Producer Chris Parry
Let's Go to Bed
The Cure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
Let me take your hand
I'm shaking like milk
Turning
Turning blue
All over the windows and the floors
Fires outside in the sky
Look as perfect as cats
The two of us
Together again
But it's just the same
A stupid game
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't say it
If you won't say it first
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
You think you're tired now
But wait until three
Laughing at the Christmas lights
You remember from December
All of this then back again
Another girl
Another name
Stay alive but stay the same
It's just the same
A stupid game
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't play it
If you don't play it first
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
You can't even see now
So you ask me the way
You wonder if it's real
Because it couldn't be rain
Through the right doorway
And into the white room
It used to be the dust that would lay here
When I came here alone
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't play it
If you don't play it first (oh, ho, ho, ho, ho)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
Let's go to bed
Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho
Let's go to bed
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
(Doo, doo, doo)
In The Cure's song "Let's Go to Bed," the lyrics tell a story of two people engaging in a silly game of love. The singer is hesitant to express their feelings unless they are reciprocated first. The title, "Let's Go to Bed," is a playful suggestion to the person they are courting, inviting them to take their relationship to the next level physically. However, the lyrics reveal that the invitation is a game, not really meant to be taken seriously. In the first verse, the singer's nervousness is apparent as they describe their shaky state in comparison to milk. The singer's nervousness is mirrored in the description of the fires outside as "perfect as cats," an odd comparison that seems to emphasize the surreal, dreamlike quality of the scene.
In the second verse, the singer suggests that their relationship is cyclical, always returning to the same place. They reference another girl with another name, suggesting that their love life is not particularly unique or meaningful. The repetition of "it's just the same, a stupid game" emphasizes that the singer is not particularly invested in the relationship. Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex mix of longing and detachment.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me take your hand
I want to be close to you and connect with you
I'm shaking like milk
I'm nervous and unsure of myself
Turning, turning blue
I'm feeling depressed and my emotions are overwhelming me
All over the windows and the floors
My sadness is seeping out of me and affecting everything around me
Fires outside in the sky
There is chaos and destruction happening outside, as if the world reflects how I feel inside
Look as perfect as cats
Despite the chaos and despair, there is still beauty and elegance around us, symbolized by the graceful feline
The two of us, together again
We are reunited and it feels familiar, but there's an undercurrent of discomfort
But it's just the same, a stupid game
Our relationship is almost repetitive, and we're not truly connecting on a deeper level
But I don't care if you don't
I'm not invested enough in this relationship to take initiative or make an effort, I'm just going along with it
And I don't feel if you don't
I'm numb and detached from my emotions, mirroring your disconnect
And I don't want it if you don't
I'm not enthusiastic or passionate about this relationship, and I can sense you feel the same
And I won't say it, if you won't say it first
I'm hesitant to express my feelings and open up, especially if you don't reciprocate
You think you're tired now, but wait until three
You believe you're at your limit, but the worst is yet to come
Laughing at the Christmas lights you remember from December
We're reminiscing about happier times, but the present starkly contrasts with those fond memories
All of this then back again, another girl, another name
Our cycle of meaningless relationships repeats and the pattern of failing to connect continues, with different partners but the same result
Stay alive, but stay the same
We continue to exist and go through the motions, but we're not growing or truly living
You can't even see now, so you ask me the way
You're feeling lost and need guidance to navigate our relationship
You wonder if it's real, because it couldn't be rain
You question the authenticity of our relationship, because it seems too good to be true or because it feels like it's manufactured
Through the right doorway and into the white room
We have to make the right choices to move forward and progress, symbolized by entering a stark white space that represents a blank slate
It used to be the dust that would lay here when I came here alone
Previously, I had to overcome solitary obstacles to enter a new chapter, but now it's something we need to face together
Let's go to bed
It's time to end the pointless game we're playing and just rest
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert James Smith, Laurence Andrew Tolhurst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThisFeatureisPointlessLmao
0:03 [Intro]
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo
0:17 [Verse 1]
Let me take your hands
I'm shaking like milk
Turning
Turning blue
All over the windows and the floors
Fires outside in the sky
Look as perfect as cats
The two of us
Together again
But it's just the same
A stupid game
0:48 [Chorus]
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't say it
If you won't say it first
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo
1:18 [Verse 2]
You think you're tired now
But wait until three
Laughing at the Christmas lights
You remember from December
All of this then back again
Another girl
Another name
Stay alive but stay the same
It's a a stupid game
Stupid game
1:48 [Chorus]
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't play it
If you won't play it first
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo
2:18 [Verse 3]
You can't even see now
So you ask me the way
You wonder if it's real
Because it couldn't be rain
Through the right doorway
And into the white room
It used to be the dust that would lay here
When I came here alone
2:48 [Chorus]
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't say it
If you won't say it first
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo
3:07 [Outro]
Let's go to bed
Let's go to bed
Let's go to bed
@o.y.1272
Let me take your hand
I'm shaking like milk
Turning
Turning blue
All over the windows and the floors
Fires outside in the sky
Look as perfect as cats
The two of us
Together again
But it's just the same
A stupid game
But I don't care if you don't
And I don't feel if you don't
And I don't want it if you don't
And I won't say it
If you won't say it first
@4r4chn1da33
I’ve always loved the lyric “I’m shaking like milk” it’s so silly and cute yet also genius
@prankstertwins
what does it MEAN
@4r4chn1da33
@@prankstertwins shaking like milk -> shaking milk -> shake milk -> milkshake
It’s a play on the word “milkshake”
@prankstertwins
omggg it’s so obvious now that you say it
@lukasmuller8125
@@4r4chn1da33 alright but is this a metaphore? and for what?
@4r4chn1da33
@@lukasmuller8125 it means he is shaking like crazy
@JessieAllOverx
I'm kinda new to The Cure's music... But every song I've listened to hasn't failed to amaze me. They're so... awesome. <3
@kianaw.8096
oh wow. you still listening ?
@JessieAllOverx
@@kianaw.8096 I do still listen to them! 😊
@Babababa90662
what about now?:)