The Cure's full lineup history is as follows: Robert Smith (vocals, guitar 1976-present), Lol Tolhurst (drums, keyboards 1976-1989), Michael Dempsey (bass 1976-1979), Porl Thompson (guitar, keyboards 1976-1978, 1983-1992, 2005 -2010), Simon Gallup (bass, keyboards 1979-1982, 1985-present), Matthieu Hartley (keyboards 1979 -1980), Andy Anderson (drums 1983-1984), Phil Thornalley (bass 1983-1984), Boris Williams (drums 1984-1994), Roger O'Donnell (keyboards 1987 -1990, 1995-2005, 2011-present), Perry Bamonte (guitar, keyboards 1990-2005), Jason Cooper drums 1995-present) and Reeves Gabrels (guitar 2012-present)
Just as the group's lineup has changed, the band's sound has evolved throughout the years, starting off as a post-punk band similar to Wire and Gang of Four before morphing into a gothic rock band in the early 80's, to a synthpop group in the mid-80's and a power-pop-alternative band in the early 90's. The Cure has always been an alternative and very independent band which was evident from the early days. Shunning the anarchistic tendencies of many punk bands after their formation in 1976 , The Cure's first release was Killing an Arab, based on material from French writer Albert Camus' "L'Etranger" (translated into English as The Stranger or The Outsider). This track courted controversy because of its theme (misinterpreted as racist, it was in fact, about the futility of killing any ethnicity), but it started to secure a small following, which grew following the release of debut album Three Imaginary Boys and non-LP single Boys Don't Cry in 1979, the latter of which would become one of The Cure's most famous songs. At that time, The Cure embarked on tour as the support for Siouxsie & the Banshees' Join Hands Tour. After the sudden departure of guitarist John McKay, Robert was recruited as guitarist for the Banshees as the band 'felt he was the only person capable of taking on the task.' As a result, Robert completed the tour playing two sets a night with The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Following this, The Cure moved from their punk leanings into the portentous post-punk territory, releasing three albums of doom-laden rock in three years, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography, the latter of which charted inside the UK top 10, though the band were repeatedly dogged by the "Second-class Joy Division" tag. Following their third set of line-up changes, the group released Japanese Whispers, a compilation of three singles and their b-sides. Through their desire to escape the Joy Division description, the singles were a poppier effort, featuring danceable tracks like Let's Go To Bed alongside pop songs like Love Cats. Following the commercial disappointment of follow-up album The Top in 1984, The Cure returned to form with 1985's The Head On The Door. Featuring the singles In Between Days and Close To Me, The Head on the Door was distant from the band's punk roots, having more in common with successful alternative bands like The Smiths and Echo & The Bunnymen than their gloomier roots.
Two years later, the eighth studio album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me was a more stadium-sized effort, though featuring audacious pop songs like Why Can't I Be You, it was seemingly caught between two styles. However, it was the band's ninth effort (following the departure of last surviving founder member other than Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst), Disintegration, that would be their greatest success, both critically and commercially. Disintegration spawned hit singles like Lullaby (no.5 in the UK), Love Song (an impressive no. 2 in the USA), Pictures of You, and Fascination Street. The album itself was a culmination of The Cure's directions through the eighties, featuring the poppier side combined with the more tender aspects, as well as the gloomier facets.
Following this, a remix compilation named Mixed Up was released in 1990, featuring one new track, Never Enough, and two years later tenth studio album Wish surfaced, which was a hit mainly from the momentum gained by Disintegration, though it also featured their most famous pop song, Friday I'm In Love (no.6 in the UK and no.18 in the US). During the years following this, the band became distracted and discouraged by the lawsuit launched by former member Lol Tolhurst, who felt he had been deprived of royalties. As a result, the 1996 album Wild Mood Swings felt unfocused, and was a critical and commercial failure, though the single Mint Car was a moderate hit.
In 1997, The Cure released the compilation Galore, featuring new song Wrong Number. Three years later, at the release of original album Bloodflowers, Robert Smith announced it would be the last album for the band, the album itself being a return to the gloomier rock of Pornography and Faith. Resultantly, another hits compilation was released in 2001. However, in 2004, the band surprised all by returning with a self-titled album, their twelfth studio album, which was a surprise hit, reaching the US Top 10, its lead single - The End of the World - becoming a modest hit on Modern Rock radio, and receiving a relatively warm reception from the press.
In May 2005, Smith fired Roger O'Donnell and Perry Bamonte from the band, along with Bamonte's brother Daryl, who had been The Cure's tour manager for many years. The remaining members of the band (Robert Smith, longtime bassist Simon Gallup and Jason Cooper) made a few appearances as a trio before it was announced that founding member Porl Thompson would be returning to The Cure.
In early 2007 the band toured Asia and Oceania, but a planned North American tour in Autumn 2007 was delayed until Spring 2008 so the band could continue recording their next album.
The band released their thirteenth album 4:13 Dream on 27 October 2008. Four singles and a remix EP called "Hypnagogic States" were releases on the 13th of each month preceding the album's release.
In 2009, Robert Smith won the Godlike Genius award at the NME Awards. On April 19, 2009, the band performed at the Coachella Festival in California.
During 2010, Robert Smith contributed songs to the soundtrack of the Tim Burton film "Alice in Wonderland" and provided guest vocals on the songs "Not in Love" by Crystal Castles and "Come to Me" by 65daysofstatic.
Between 31 May 2011 and 1 June 2011, the band performed three concerts at the Sydney Opera House performing the entirety of one of their first three albums on each night. Porl Thompson did not perform with the band at any of the concerts, but Roger O'Donnell performed with the band for the "Seventeen Seconds" and "Faith" concerts, and co-founding member Lol Tulhurst performed with the band for the first time since 1988 for the "Faith" concert. As of 2011, O'Donnell has returned to the lineup officially. In 2012, the band added former Tin Machine guitarist Reeves Gabrels to the lineup.
In 2013 The Cure started The Great Circle Tour, headlining festivals in Japan, South Korea and North America. In 2014 Robert Smith announced the upcoming release of a new album, to be called 4:14 Scream, featuring 14 songs recorded during the 4:13 Dream sessions and also an accompanying double album 4:26 Dream containing all the tracks from those sessions.
The Cure official website: www.thecure.com
The Cure official Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thecure
The Cure on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/thecure?ref=ts
The Cure - Disintegration Microsite: http://www.thecuredisintegration.com/bin/thecure
Sleep When I'm Dead
The Cure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
But until then"
If I kept it clean
They said I would be the chosen one
If I took one for the team
Yeah, it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
That's a green-eyed panic climb
To the edge of nowhere
Give it to the chicken
And see if it ticks
Yeah, give it to the kitten
And see if it sits
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
And I will tell on my return
The way it is
With all the happy boys and girls
Yeah, the whole h-h-happy world
And the love they feel for me
Yeah, the love they feel for me
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
They told me I could run the world
If I kept it quiet
They said I could be the man
If I took it out of sight
In a monkey suit again
Having fun with all your friends
How a casual hour can pull
All this world to pieces
Give it to the bunny
And see if she kicks
Yeah, give it to the puppy
And see if he sticks
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
I'll let you know when I get back
Just how it is with all the other boys and girls
Yeah, the whole, w-, other world
And the way it stirs inside
And the why it never burns at night
And the way they make the climb
And the why they never pray for time
And the way I show surprise
And the why I never close my eyes
Yeah, just how it is
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead"
But until then"
I should at least feel tired, I think
Before I lay me down to dream
Sleep When I'm Dead, a song by the British rock band The Cure, is a reference to the idea of not wasting time on sleep and instead living life to the fullest. The chorus of the song - "Sleep when I'm dead, you angels / I'll sleep when I'm dead, I said" - conveys a sense of urgency to make the most of every moment. Although the words may seem nihilistic at first, in the context of the whole song, they become a celebration of life and living it to the fullest.
The first verse seems to reflect on the idea of success being earned through hard work and sacrifice. The singer has been told that he can "run the world" if he "kept it clean" and "took one for the team". The green-eyed panic mentioned could be referring to envy, as those who succeed are often envied by those who do not. The singer seems to acknowledge this but believes that it is the way things are and one must work through that.
The second verse appears to be a commentary on society's disregard for truth, as it is more interested in presenting a façade. The singer has been told that he can be successful if he keeps his actions "quiet" and takes things "out of sight". The references to a "monkey suit" and "casual act" hint at the idea of superficiality, which is a recurring theme in much of The Cure's music. The verse ends with a tone of resignation, suggesting that the singer has accepted society's flaws and is just trying to make the best of it.
Overall, Sleep When I'm Dead appears to be a commentary on the idea of mortality and the need to make the most of the time that one has. Although the song may seem depressing at first, it is actually a call to live life in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep when I'm dead, you angels
I'll rest when I'm no longer alive, celestial beings
I'll sleep when I'm dead, I said
I'll rest once I've passed away, as I've previously stated
Well until then
Until the event of my death
Told me I could run the world
If I kept it clean
I was told I could be in charge if I maintained order
Told me I could be the chosen one
If I took one for the team
I was informed I could be selected if I sacrificed myself for the group
And it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
It's a green-eyed panic (pride?)
To the edge of nowhere
This is the exclusive method to act, don't believe it's unjust, it's a jealous frenzy, leading to the unknown
Give it to the chick
And see if it ticks
Provide it to the lady and verify its validity
Give it to the (kid?)
See if it sticks
Provide it to the youngster and examine if it works
Give it to the wonderful, wonderful me
I'll let you know on my return just how it is
with all the other boys and girls
Give me a chance, I'll keep you informed about my experience with everyone else
The whole fucking other world
The way they grew to (be?)
(The love they feel about me?)
The whole different universe and the way they evolved (or the affection they have towards me?)
Told me I could run the world
If I kept it quiet
They assured me I could govern if I remained silent
They said I could be the man
If I took it out of sight
They stated I could be the person if I kept it hidden
So in a monkey suit of (pins?)
Having fun with all your friends
So, dressed in a peculiar suit, amusing oneself with the companions
How a casual (act can pull?)
All this world to pieces
Just a small action can rip this world to shreds
Give it to the (bunny? bonnie?)
And see if she kicks
Provide it to the rabbit (or possibly the girl's nickname) and observe her reaction
Give it to the (puppy?)
See if it sticks
Give it to the dog (or possibly the boy's nickname) and check if it works
The whole fucking other world
The way they feel inside
The why they never make it (by?)
The way they are inside
The why I never take the time
The way they are inside
The why I never act surprised
Yeah, just how it is
The entire diverse world and how they feel within, the reasoning why they never succeed, the way they are within, why I don't bother, how they really are
I may as well be tired, I think
Before I lay me down to dream
I might as well feel fatigued before I go to sleep and have dreams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert James Smith, Jason Toop Cooper, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind