Killing an Arab
The Cure
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Standing on the beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the Arab on the ground I can see his open mouth But I hear no sound I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I can turn And walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I chose It amounts to the same Absolutely nothing I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I feel the steel butt jump Smooth in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring at myself Reflected in the eyes Of the dead man on the beach The dead man on the beach I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab
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Written by: LAURENCE ANDREW TOLHURST, MICHAEL STEPHEN DEMPSEY, ROBERT JAMES SMITH
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Broma 16
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Inspiration Source"Killing an Arab" was inspired by Albert Camus’s existentialist novel "The Stranger," which the band's frontman, Robert Smith, read while in school. The song reflects the novel's content, specifically the scene where the protagonist kills an Arab man on a beach.
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Title ControversyThe title of the song has often been misunderstood, causing it to be perceived as racist or controversial. Despite the fact that it references a literary work, it was often wrongly interpreted, leading to a number of radio stations refusing to play it.
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Misinterpretation AddressedIn order to avoid potential hate or violence-inciting, the band issued a statement expressing that the song had no racist intentions. They also included a disclaimer on the record's cover indicating it was a reference to Camus's novel.
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Song's ReleaseThe song was released in December 1978 as a stand-alone single and was The Cure's first release. Later, it was included in their 1979 debut album "Boys Don’t Cry".
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RenamingDue to the continuous misinterpretation of its title, when the song was included in the band's 'Greatest Hits' album, it was renamed "Killing Another".
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Song's GenreThe song is generally defined as representing post-punk music, a genre which emerged as a darker and more complex offshoot of punk rock in the late 70s and early 80s.
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Frontman's ViewRobert Smith has confessed in interviews that he regrets the song's title due to the controversy and misunderstanding it has caused, even though he still stands by the meaning and inspiration of the song.
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Song's ReceptionDespite the controversies, "Killing an Arab" has been recognized as a critically significant song in The Cure's discography and is often praised for its exploration of existentialist themes.
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Live PerformancesDespite the controversies, the band has continued to perform the song live at their concerts, often paired with disclaimers about its true meaning to avoid misinterpretations.
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Influence"Killing an Arab" established The Cure's characteristic dark and brooding sound, which would be further developed and refined in their later works. It’s considered as one of the band’s seminal songs and has influenced many artists in the alternative music scene.
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