The Figurehead
The Cure Lyrics
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And sleeping less every night
As the days become heavier and weighted
Waiting in the cold light
A noise, a scream tears my clothes as the figurines tighten
With spiders inside them
And dust on the lips of a vision of hell
I laughed in the mirror for the first time in a year
A hundred other words blind me with your purity
Like an old painted doll in the throes of dance
I think about tomorrow, please let me sleep
As I slip down the window, freshly squashed fly
You mean nothing
You mean nothing
I can lose myself in Chinese art and American girls
All the time, lose me in the dark
Please do it right, run into the night
I will lose myself tomorrow
Crimson pain, my heart explodes
My memory in a fire
And someone will listen
At least for a short while
(I can never say no)
I can never say no to anyone but you
Too many secrets, too many lies
Writhing with hatred
Too many secrets, please make it good tonight
But the same image haunts me
In sequence, in despair of time
I will never be clean again
I touched her eyes
Pressed my stained face
I will never be clean again
Touched her eyes
Pressed my stained face
I will never be clean again
I will never be clean again
I will never be clean again
I will never be clean again
The lyrics to The Cure's "The Figurehead" are haunting and introspective, touching on themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines, "Sharp and open, leave me alone," suggest a desire for isolation and a need to escape the pressures of the world. The singer is sleeping less and feeling increasingly weighed down by the passing days, waiting for something to give.
The "figurines" with spiders inside them represent the singer's inner demons, and the "vision of hell" with dust on its lips is a metaphor for the perceived meaninglessness of existence. However, in the midst of this despair, the singer experiences a strange moment of levity: "I laughed in the mirror for the first time in a year."
The second half of the song continues with the theme of secrets and lies, and the desire to escape from them. But despite the attempts to run away, the same haunting image continues to resurface. The final lines, "I will never be clean again," suggest a final resignation to the weight of the singer's past mistakes and the impossibility of starting anew.
Overall, "The Figurehead" is a deeply introspective and melancholic song that explores the complexities of human emotions and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sharp and open
Feeling vulnerable and exposed
Leave me alone
Asking others to give some space for self-reflection
And sleeping less every night
Difficulty sleeping due to a heavy heart and mind
As the days become heavier and weighted
Feeling burdened by the weight of everyday life
Waiting
Hoping for something to happen, but not sure what
In the cold light
Seeing things clearly, but without warmth or comfort
A noise
A sudden, unexpected sound
A scream tears my clothes as the figurines tighten
Feeling like the world is closing in and suffocating
With spiders inside them
The figurines represent fear and anxiety
And dust on the lips of a vision of hell
A bleak and unsettling image of the future
I laughed in the mirror for the first time in a year
A moment of self-realization and acceptance
A hundred other words blind me with your purity
Feeling overwhelmed by someone's perfection
Like an old painted doll in the throes of dance
Feeling trapped and controlled
I think about tomorrow
Wondering what the future holds
Please let me sleep
Desperately needing rest, both physically and mentally
As I slip down the window
Feeling like life is slipping away, out of control
Freshly squashed fly
A symbol of death and decay, life suddenly ending
You mean nothing
Feeling like others don't understand, or like nothing matters
I can lose myself in Chinese art and American girls
Finding solace in beauty and desire
All the time
Continually searching for comfort and escape
Lose me in the dark
Looking for a way to disappear completely
Please do it right
Wanting others to handle the situation carefully
Run into the night
Escaping into the unknown, away from everything
I will lose myself tomorrow
Knowing that new escapism awaits in the future
Crimson pain
A sudden and intense physical pain
My heart explodes
Feeling like emotions are too much to bear
My memory in a fire
Burning all memories to start fresh, to forget
And someone will listen
Feeling the need for support and validation
At least for a short while...
Knowing that the comfort and support are temporary
I can never say no to anyone but you
Being unable to resist the temptation of escape
Too many secrets
Hiding the truth, avoiding reality
Too many lies
Living in falsehood, not being honest
Writhing with hatred
Feeling consumed by anger and loathing
Please make it good tonight...
Desperately hoping the escape will be worth it
But the same image haunts me
Unable to fully escape the reality and emotions
In sequence
One after the other, no break or relief
In despair of time
Feeling like time is against and unwelcome
I will never be clean again
Feeling stained, unable to undo past mistakes
I touched her eyes
Anticipating love while under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs
Pressed my stained face
Covered oneself in the blemishes that only a tortured soul could bear
I will never be clean again
Negative brain patterns and fixed beliefs that hamper progress towards healing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Laurence Andrew Tolhurst, Robert James Smith, Simon Gallup
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind