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.
Yes - I can confirm this is the last Cure song of the project, at least from me. Shannon has her one last mystery song for me so I have no idea who the artist is.
I know the past week has been pretty much depressing and tonight is only slightly better. As information, I just put these Cure songs on our project in the order they appear on the album - and Endsong is the last song clocking in at a measly ten minutes twenty-three seconds. Lyrics don't even start until around the six minute twenty-three seconds mark.
I have read some articles about the meaning behind this one and I'll start with the immediate thoughts I had about it as soon as I read them.
This song was inspired by a starlit night that reminded Robert of when he was outside in the backyard with his father in 1969 during the Apollo 11 moon landing. I never got to witness something so emotional and impactful on society as this with my sons, so I'm going with the next closest memories that jumped to mind.
We may have mentioned in the past that we used to do "Family Fun Days" with the boys - a sort of get out and have fun but add some education type excursions.
The first few pictures are a New Years Day road-trip that only Gabriel and I took to Perkins Observatory. I don't really recall what inspired it, but I knew he would like the parabolic dish setup where we could talk to each other over distance.
The next few pictures are at COSI when there was a Star Wars exhibit happening and the boys were working together to lift a car. Though Connor seems to be having more fun using it as a swing as opposed to getting some real scientific work done.
Of course there were also trips to the Ohio History Center (where we actually had Gabriel's HS Graduation Party at his choosing - seriously!)
What nerd parents we were. But I wouldn't change a single day.
Will my sons remember these things? Do they look back with happiness or annoyance? What will they remember when I'm dead and gone?
If the very last song of this project on February 19th, 2025 is the "Yang" of this journey, this song embodies the "Yin". That, my friends, is a pretty powerful statement coming from me. As of last night, we have had 355+ songs on this journey (some nights had two songs), and while some have been emotionally devastating, this one, for me, is the most powerfully depressing.
On the flip side, that must mean the last song is pretty uplifting, so don't despair!
I'm including a writeup below, and unfortunately, I couldn't track down the author to give them credit. But since I have less than 6 hours everyday to write about each song, this is exactly what I think and feel. I couldn't put it any better - from the lyrical or musical standpoint.
This album is Robert Smith's best work, and I'm so glad I grew up loving him...
A Grand Finale for Songs of a Lost World "Endsong," the closing track of The Cure's Songs of a Lost World, is a haunting, expansive piece that serves as an emotional and sonic curtain call. The track opens with an ethereal synth pad, enveloping listeners in a dense, atmospheric soundscape that feels both timeless and melancholic. The Genesis-like drumming, steady and restrained, adds a sense of grandeur to the piece, as layer upon layer of instrumentation builds over the course of its sprawling six-and-a-half-minute introduction. It is an epic, cinematic start that lures you into a reflective journey before Robert Smith’s voice emerges.
Timeless Vocals, Challenging Structure Smith’s vocals, as ever, are arresting. His voice has aged beautifully, imbued with the same emotional weight that has made him a gothic icon for decades. However, despite the stunning vocal delivery, the song risks losing some listeners due to its lengthy instrumental sections. While the atmosphere is immersive, the drawn-out intro and midsection may test the patience of those who prefer tighter compositions. Still, for fans who revel in The Cure’s brooding, slow-burn style, this track is nothing short of masterful.
Lyrical Reflection on a Lost World Lyrically, "Endsong" is poignant and introspective. Smith reflects on the passage of time and the loss of hope, a theme that resonates deeply in today’s world. The song’s verses, filled with imagery of a blood-red moon and forgotten dreams, mirror Smith’s personal disillusionment with the direction the world has taken since his youth. His memories of watching Apollo 11’s moon landing with his father, contrasted with his later feelings of societal decline, add layers of depth to the song. It's a reflection on the erosion of optimism, a theme that looms large over the entire album.
Repetition and Emotional Weight The chorus, simple yet powerful, reinforces the sense of desolation: "It's all gone, it's all gone, nothing left of all I loved." This repetition, coupled with the stark instrumental bridge, heightens the emotional weight of the track. The final moments of the song feel like an echo of loss, with Smith repeating the words "left alone with nothing" as the music fades into silence. It's a heart-wrenching conclusion, both for the track and the album as a whole.
A Fitting End to a Dark Journey "Endsong" is a quintessential Cure track — dark, introspective, and deeply evocative. Though its length and pacing might not appeal to everyone, it is a fitting end to Songs of a Lost World, encapsulating the themes of isolation and disillusionment that run throughout the record. The Cure remains masters of their craft, and "Endsong" is another testament to their enduring ability to make music that speaks to the soul.
The Cure Endsong Lyrics Meaning Explained The meaning of "Endsong" by The Cure is a meditation on loss, aging, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and reflective lyrics, Robert Smith expresses a deep sense of disillusionment with both personal and collective experiences. The song, drawn from feelings of grief following the deaths of Smith's parents and brother, contemplates how the dreams and hopes of youth fade as one grows older. With its themes of isolation and emotional emptiness, "Endsong" serves as a poignant reflection on the inevitable decline of everything once cherished, leaving only a haunting sense of finality.
Instrumental Intro: Setting the Tone "Endsong" begins with a lengthy instrumental intro, setting a somber and reflective tone. The ethereal synth pad and Genesis-inspired drumming evoke a dreamlike yet desolate atmosphere. This slow build allows the listener to sink into a sense of void—perhaps representing the emptiness Robert Smith explores in the lyrics, a void created by loss and the disillusionment with the passage of time. The absence of vocals during this part emphasizes the emotional weight of the track, allowing the music to speak before Smith's voice emerges.
Verse 1: Nostalgia and the Passage of Time The first verse introduces a powerful image: "And I'm outside in the dark staring at the blood red moon." The blood-red moon is symbolic, representing both something rare and ominous, often associated with death or loss. This imagery sets the stage for personal reflection as Smith looks back on the hopes and dreams of his youth: "Remembering the hopes and dreams I had and all I had to do." The reference to “that boy and the world he called his own” speaks to a younger version of Smith, full of ambitions and an idealized view of the future. Now, in the present, he reflects on how he has aged, both physically and emotionally, wondering, "how I got so old." This verse touches on nostalgia and existential questioning, framing the song as a meditation on the inevitable passage of time and the loss of innocence.
Chorus: The Weight of Loss In the chorus, the sense of loss is palpable: "It's all gone, it's all gone / Nothing left of all I loved." Here, Smith directly addresses the emotional devastation caused by the loss of loved ones, a recurring theme in Songs of a Lost World. Smith has shared that the album was inspired by the passing of his parents and brother, and this chorus reflects that grief. The repetition of “it all feels wrong” suggests that the world feels alien and broken to him, as if everything familiar has vanished. The lines "No hopes, no dreams, no world" express a complete disillusionment with both the personal and the global, reinforcing the feeling that there is nothing left to hold onto.
Instrumental Bridge: Reflecting the Numbness of Grief The instrumental bridge provides a moment of reflection, a musical representation of the emotional numbness that often accompanies grief. As the music swells, the absence of lyrics reflects an internal struggle to process overwhelming emotions, offering space for the listener to sit with the weight of the previous lines.
Chorus Reprise and Outro: Isolation and Finality In the chorus reprise, the new line "I will lose myself in time" suggests an acceptance of the inevitable fading of identity and memory. Smith seems to predict his eventual dissolution into time, with the line "It won't be long" hinting at the speed with which this loss is approaching. The repetition of "it's all gone" throughout the chorus underscores the finality of his feelings, reinforcing that everything that once mattered has slipped away.
The outro is particularly devastating: "Left alone with nothing at the end of every song." Repeating this phrase multiple times drives home the theme of profound isolation, with the "song" possibly symbolizing life itself. Smith seems to suggest that, at the end of it all—after every experience, every relationship—there is only solitude. The final, stark repetition of the word "nothing" emphasizes the sense of utter emptiness and loss, closing the song and the album on a haunting note.
I'm outside in the dark Wondering how I got so old
Yes, I truly am. It doesn’t seem too long ago that I was part of the youngest generation. It seems like yesterday that my children were the youngest generation. But here we are today my children are old enough to have children of their own, they don’t but they are old enough. Before I know it, I will be the oldest generation, those days are just right around the corner.
Endsong The Cure
And I'm outside in the dark staring at the blood-red moon Remembering the hopes and dreams I had, and all I had to do And wondering what became of that boy And the world he called his own I'm outside in the dark wondering how I got so old
It's all gone It's all gone Nothing left of all I loved It all feels wrong It's all gone, it's all gone, it's all gone No hopes, no dreams, no world No, I don't belong I don't belong here anymore
It's all gone It's all gone I will lose myself in time It won't be long It's all gone, it's all gone, it's all gone
Left alone with nothing at the end of every song Left alone with nothing at the end of every song Left alone with nothing, nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing
Ghost of a Chance 