Well folks, we're nearing the end. Not long now until the final entry on February 19th, 2025. The last major theme to close us out revolves around the Passing of Time. If the first few months of this project were tough, they're actually a cakewalk compared to what we're about to go through. We're getting old and life perspectives are changing as they should - AKA we're closer to dying than when we were born. Some of these songs represent the heaviest weights that we've carried since knowing them. Some are as recent as 2023 and 2024, but I know in my heart of hearts that even if they came out in 1989 they would have made this list - they are that profound to me.
So if you're an artist that made this project from here on out you should feel humble and proud...you achieved what you set out to do...make music that people feel and love...thank you.
Disclaimer: This song along with several others at the end of this project were released on November 1st, 2024 just as this project was entering the final few months. This album, Songs of a Lost World, has been one of my most anticipated releases given the facts that the last Cure album was released in 2008 and Robert Smith kept teasing over the years that he was working on it. It did not disappoint in several ways.
First, the Godfather of Emo, depressing music has released his Swan Song, much like Clockwork Angels is to Rush. I'm not saying it's their last release, but I can't imagine anything better.
Second, it's just another reminder of my own life's journey. The Cure has been a part of my musical tapestry for a long, long time. If the border of that tapestry is my string of fate with Shannon, each band on this project is woven into it - some more than others.
Third, where yes, most Cure songs are somewhat depressing and somewhat personal (one exception being Cut Here which is extremely depressing and extremely personal), this entire album is very personal and very raw. He has lost his parents. His brother passed away and it has affected him deeply. I believe he only has his sister left. Listening to this album you can feel this statement Shannon has shared with me over the years:
"One sibling will attend every sibling's funeral and one sibling won't attend any"
So all that being said, there are five songs featured on this project at the end. Reminder - they just came out three and a half months ago. Shannon fulfilled her role of editor / producer and repeatedly quizzed me "Are you sure?"
I'm sure. If they had come out in 1989 and I had listened to them for the past 30 years, they would have made this project somewhere.
Wow. Musically, this is probably my favorite song on the album. It has that throwback nostalgia Cure vibe.
But god it's depressing, at least how I interpret it.
Assuming that it's just Robert Smith and his sister left alive in their family, the "she" in the song is his sister. She is the one singing the entire song.
Again - I know diddly-squat about his personal life, but I just can't imagine this being anything but a conversation between the last two remaining siblings.
I say that because I've seen that journey first hand.
How can you even begin to have those tentative, tender conversations with your sibling(s) about the loss of another sibling when you're not even sure how to talk to yourself about it?
As I type this, the scenes from the very end of Saving Private Ryan pop into my head, where Private James Francis Ryan has learned about the loss of his brothers and has to process it in the middle of a war. But more specifically when he has that tender moment where he tells a story about some of them pranking another one and his girlfriend in the barn. He can no longer share that memory with any siblings, so he shares it with the only brothers he has left.
Grief is a son-of-a-bitch. Whether you say the passing of time heals it or just dulls it, it doesn't matter. It sucks all the same.
I understand why Shannon didn't just dive right into this new Cure album in November / December 2024 / January 2025, but I hate that she will only get one day to listen and form her own thoughts - I don't want her interpretation to be tainted by mine. She could hear it in a whole different context.
Shannon’s Perspective:
This love is my everything, but nothing you can do to change the end
I’m gonna be painfully honest and say this write up today has been difficult. The song itself is causing a pouring out of emotion I did not expect and have not fully processed yet, so I am just gonna leave it at that for now. I promise to come back later and update.
I will confirm that I listened to the song solo a few times and my reaction is based solely on that. It wasn't until we danced that Larry shared his thoughts.
A Fragile Thing
The Cure
"Every time you kiss me, I could cry," she said
"Don't tell me how you miss me, I could die tonight of a broken heart
This loneliness has changed me, and we've been too far apart
And it's too late now for me to just forget
I never thought I'd need to feel regret for all I never was
But all this time alone has left me hurt and sad and lost
Yeah, every time you kiss me, I could cry
Don't tell me how you miss me, I could die tonight of a broken heart
This loneliness has changed me, we have been too far apart"
"And there's nothing you can do to change it back," she said
"Nothing you can do but sing, this love is a fragile thing
"Nothing you can do now but pretend again"
"Nothing you can do to change it back," she said
"Nothing you can do but sing, this love is a fragile thing
This love is my everything, but nothing you can do to change the end"
No, nothing you can do (nothing you can do, nothing you can do)
"Every time you leave me is a lie," she said
"You make believe you need me, but you try too hard, and it feels so wrong
You promise me forever, and you say it won't be long
But it's too late now for me to just forget
I never thought I'd need to feel regret for all I never was
But all this time alone has left me hurt and sad and lost
Yeah, every time you leave me is a lie
You make believe you need me, but you try too hard, and it feels so wrong
You promise me forever, and you say it won't be long"
"And there's nothing you can do to change it back," she said
"Nothing you can do but sing, this love is a fragile thing
Nothing you can do now but pretend again"
"Nothing you can do to change it back," she said
"Nothing you can do but sing, this love is a fragile thing
This love is my everything, but nothing you can do to change the end"
No, nothing you can do
to change the end...
30th Anniversary
Our Story - Shannon's Perspective
Our Story - Larry's Perspective
Ghost of a Chance (Rush) and why?
Ghost of a Chance 