From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea

I have a different interpretation:

I think this, like many of The Cure's songs, is actually a stinging critique of the futility and emptiness of dating relationships for young people in the Western world. In this song he describes the reality of someone who has been through many relationships, and is now so deeply filled with doubt, that even as he feels love, he anticipates the failure of the relationship, and the empty feeling that he will have at the end of it (and thereby also sabotages that same relationship).

"her" is actually a generic woman -- he has fallen for so many women, and he keeps falling in love, but it is always ephemeral, always leading to heartbreak. He wants what we all want -- true love, constant companionship, something to fill the hole in his heart. And yet after each failed relationship, he feels farther from his "home" -- where home here refers to the magical place where we feel comfortable, at ease, secure, whole.

The Cure never go far enough to suggest a better system than the horrific modern-day system of "serial dating" -- which leaves lasting emotional scars, self-doubt, and "complexes," -- and leads to insecure failing marriages. But still they point it out very clearly in their songs, and I think very clearly in this one.

Anyone else find it a bit funny that Rob writes things like this but is with his childhood sweetheart.

I don'tthink it's that the man doesn't love her anymore..

I always got a strong sense of love from him for her. But he realizes that this one moment they're sharing staring at the edge of the deep green sea, is nothing more then a moment that will lead to nothing but heartbreak. She seems to be in a bit more in denial about the situation, as she forces or hopes to belive in him....

he plays along...

"i lie to keep her happy" "like she wants to believe in me.. so i try"

it's the realization of having to let go of the only thing that makes you feel "colourfully-see-through-head", and although he begs 'please stay, not just for today'...they both know what they're seeking is 'forever gone'

I've always believed it's about an adulterous affair between two former lovers. Either both or one of them has a spouse, but they still come together because they fill each other's needs and they have history together.

"I know this can't be wrong" I say (And I'll lie to keep her happy) "As long as I know that you know That today I belong right here with you"

How much more can we use it up? Drink it dry? Take this drug? Looking for something forever gone But something we will always want...

The edge of the deep green sea is where they go to meet so that they'll be away from anyone that will recognize them.

A different name Same old game Love in vain And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles Away from home again...

I love this song. The lyrics are so poetic, as are so many of the Cure's lyrics. And it describes the anguish of a doomed love affair so well - that longing for fulfillment, the lies that they use to try and persuade themselves it is right ..."We'll be here forever and we'll never say goodbye..." (yeah, I've heard that one before...) but it will all end in heart break because they know they are "Looking for something forever gone..." Love can be wonderful beyond words but "Only love can break your heart," (Neil Young, of course) and nothing hurts quite like heartbreak.

Odds are, this song wasn't inspired by any event that happened in Robert's own life but more likely something he witnessed, heard about, or read about. As the posters who have mentioned before, Robert married his high school sweet heart and while some of the love songs he writes are indeed about her, most of them are not, and they're not even about events in his own life (A Letter to Elise for example).

Don't read to much into it. Most great writers pull inspiration from many different sources, those that write solely about their own experiences tend to run out of material.

As far as what this song 'means'. It's all pretty much summed up in one of the last lines, love in vein. Leading a relationship on that you know isn't going to last. While it looks beautiful and romantic to start off it all ends in heart ache. A pretty common theme in Robert's song writing, especially on the album this song comes off of.

This is a GREAT but very sad song. To me, it is about a couple who have broken up, but always end up hooking up because there are still feelings between them. They are really getting hurt by doing this, and every time it happens, they wake up the next morning feeling really confused and foolish and hurt. This has been going on for some time, and he wishes he could stop, but it's like a drug; he can't resist her throwing herself at him.
I am not a huge Cure fan, but my housemate in college got me hooked on this song.

Wow!! I've always loved this song and I always will... It's one of my absolute favourites, although I have to admit that the cure have contributed a lot of potential favourites... To me, the lines "I wish I could just stop I know another moment will break my heart " have always been me magical to me, but only in the last part (after the "surrenders it all"); I don't know the exact reason for this, but maybe it's because of the desparation (why why why are you letting me go?) in this paragraph. I always liked the kind of story-telling in this song, it's a very detailed description of the scenery.

Absolutely love this song.

Some favorite lyrics:

"And don't go home don't go away Don't let this end please stay not just for today" -- Even though he knows the relationship may not be meant to be...he doesn't want it to end.

"But suddenly she slows and looks down at my breaking face Why do you cry? what did I say? But it's just rain I smile brushing my tears away" -- my favorite part of the whole song. He's trying not to show her how hurt he is..and his true feelings.

"And just as I'm breaking free she hangs herself in front of me Slips her dress like a flag to the floor and hands in the sky Surrenders it all" -- Right as he's trying to distance himself from her and the relationship - she's there .. getting naked....and obviously then they hook up and relationship continues

Seriously one of the most amazing songs ever. Doesn't get more romantic or better than this

so impossible: it's kinda slow. but it's also kinda loud. if you want something really slow, try "sinking" or "all cats are grey" or "to wish impossible things" or, jeez.. so many.