Last Dance
The Cure (Desintegration 1989) Lyrics


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I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending our last dance together
Expectant too punctual but
Prettier than ever
I really believed that this time it's forever

But older than me now more constant more real
And the fur and the mouth and the innocence
Turned to hair and contentment that hangs in
Abasement a woman now standing where once
There was only a girl

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
The walking through walls in the heart of December
The blindness of happiness
Of falling down laughing
And I really believed that this time was forever

But Christmas falls late now flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall
All this in an instant before I can kiss you
A woman now standing were once there was only a girl

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending our last dance together
Reluctantly cautiously but
Prettier than ever I really believed
That this time it's forever

But Christmas falls late now, flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall




And even if we drink I don't think we would kiss
In the way that we did when the woman was only a girl

Overall Meaning

The song "Last Dance" by The Cure is a poignant and melancholic ode to lost love and the fleeting nature of time. The lyrics speak of the singer's bittersweet feelings towards a past lover who has come back into their life for one final dance. They reflect on how the passage of time has transformed their partner into a mature, content woman, instead of the young girl they remember. The lyrics are steeped in nostalgia, with references to laughter, walking through walls, and the happiness that they once shared.


The song expresses both the joy and pain of reminiscing about a past love. While the singer is happy to see their partner again and grateful for the memories they shared, they can't help but feel sad about what has been lost. The line "But Christmas falls late now, flatter and colder, And never as bright as when we used to fall" beautifully captures this sense of loss and longing. The song ends on a wistful note, with the singer acknowledging that even if they were to drink, they would never be able to recapture the magic of their past relationship.


Overall, "Last Dance" is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the universal experience of lost love and the passage of time. Its lyrics are both tender and heartbreaking, perfectly capturing the fragility and unpredictability of life and love.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm so glad you came
Expressing delight in the presence of the person addressed


I'm so glad you remembered
Feeling grateful that the person addressed has kept their promise to meet


To see how we're ending our last dance together
Acknowledging that this occasion marks the end of their relationship


Expectant too punctual but
Feeling excited and anxious, but also arriving ahead of schedule


Prettier than ever
Complimenting the person addressed for their beauty


I really believed that this time it's forever
Expressing sincere hope that the relationship will last


But older than me now more constant more real
Admitting that the person addressed is older and more mature than the singer, and their relationship has become more stable


And the fur and the mouth and the innocence
Describing the physical features that used to be attractive, but have faded with time


Turned to hair and contentment that hangs in abasement
Acknowledging that the attraction has given way to a more settled but less exciting relationship


A woman now standing where once there was only a girl
Noticing the growth and maturity of the person addressed


The walking through walls in the heart of December
Recalling the excitement of past experiences together when they felt invincible


The blindness of happiness of falling down laughing
Remembering times of carefree joy and laughter


But Christmas falls late now flatter and colder
Feeling that the spirit of the holiday season has changed and become less joyful


And never as bright as when we used to fall
Feeling that the present cannot compare to the intensity and excitement of the past


All this in an instant before I can kiss you
Realizing that their time together is fleeting and precious


Reluctantly cautiously but prettier than ever
Noticing the physical beauty of the person addressed, but feeling hesitant and unsure about the future


I really believed that this time it's forever
Expressing sincere hope that the relationship will last


And even if we drink I don't think we would kiss
Doubting that even alcohol could rekindle the passion of their past relationship


In the way that we did when the woman was only a girl
Recognizing that their relationship has changed, and they cannot recapture the intensity and innocence of their past




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BORIS WILLIAMS, LAURENCE ANDREW TOLHURST, PORL THOMPSON, ROBERT JAMES SMITH, ROGER O'DONNELL, SIMON GALLUP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

NeopantomIme

I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending our last dance together
Expectant too punctual but
Prettier than ever
I really believed that this time it's forever
But older than me now more constant more real
And the fur and the mouth and the innocence
Turned to hair and contentment that hangs in
Abasement a woman now standing where once
There was only a girl
I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
The walking through walls in the heart of December
The blindness of happiness
Of falling down laughing
And I really believed that this time was forever
But Christmas falls late now flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall
All this in an instant before I can kiss you
A woman now standing were once there was only a girl
I'm so glad you came
I'm so glad you remembered
To see how we're ending our last dance together
Reluctantly cautiously but
Prettier than ever I really believed
That this time it's forever
But Christmas falls late now, flatter and colder
And never as bright as when we used to fall
And even if we drink I don't think we would kiss
In the way that we did when the woman was only a girl



All comments from YouTube:

Revemupman

Best album ever made. Every song speaks to me.

CoolMediaz

I'm a hopeless romantic

Małgorzata Zapert

I think this is one of the greatest riffs of all time...

Joeskint

It sounds to me like it may be based on The Narrow Way Part 2 from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album, which is a favourite of Robert Smith's👍

Tymn Urban

Best album to rip your heart open.

Andy C

For years me and my best mate argued over 2 Cure albums in terms of top dog. I loved Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me but he preferred Disintegration. It wasn`t until he passed away aged 30 in 2001 and i inherited his music collection and i put Disintegration on, it made me cry, he was right, it`s their finest hour. Although i cry (and still do), i feel the love as much as i feel "I told you so". Miss you mate and The Last Dance is simply one of the best nostalgia songs ever written.

Adam Varney

You were right all along. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is their best album.

Mai mai

I'm so sorry may he rest in peace and it's true the last dance is beautiful and sad at the same time

Andy C

@Mai mai Thank you.x

Amanda Maher

your friend died as a baby. I'm sorry.

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