"Lullaby" is a 1989 single by The Cure from their album Disintegration. The song is the highest charting single by the band in their home country, reaching number five in the UK charts. Additionally, the music video won the British Video of the Year at the 1990 Brit Awards.
Background
The Cure - Lullaby (Lyrics) - This is one of The Cure's greatest songs and i hope you like it as much as I do. (My first lyrics video)
The meaning of "Lullaby" has been speculated by fans, including as a metaphor for addiction or depression, and Smith has offered multiple explanations as to its theme or content, such as childhood nightmares or abuse. Tim Pope, a long-time collaborator of The Cure on many of its music videos, interprets "Lullaby" as an allegory for lead singer Robert Smith's druggy past.
Music video
The music video for "Lullaby" was filmed at a sound stage in London, England. It features Robert in bed, in a dream sequence, and the rest of the band playing tin soldiers who sporadically appear throughout the music video for a few seconds. The music video, during which Smith plays both the cannibalistic "spiderman" mentioned in the lyrics (which does not refer to the similarly-named Marvel Comics superhero) and his intended victim, concludes with Smith being swallowed by what appears to be a giant spider.
The music video, directed by Tim Pope and edited by Peter Goddard, won British Video of the Year at the 1990 Brit Awards.
Reception
Upon its release, "Lullaby" became The Cure's highest-charting hit in their home country when it reached number five. It remains their only single to reach the top 5 in the UK. In Ireland, "Lullaby" became the band's third top 10 hit and highest-charting single, reaching number three. The song also reached the top 10 in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Norway. In North America, the song was released as the second single from Disintegration instead ("Fascination Street" was the first), but did not match its predecessor's level of success, only reaching number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart.
Track listing
The US-only single "Fascination Street" included the B-sides from the UK release of "Lullaby". Therefore, the US release needed some new B-sides. The two live cuts, "Homesick" and "Untitled", are from the limited edition live album Entreat, which was recorded during the Disintegration Tour.
The song was remixed for single release, giving it more of an electronic feel.
7": Fiction / FISC 29 (UK)
- "Lullaby" (Remix) - 4:08
- "Babble" - 4:16
7": Elektra / 7-69249 (US)
- "Lullaby" (Remix)
- "Homesick" (Live Version)
- also released on cassette (9 46924-9)
12": Fiction / ficx 29 (UK)
- "Lullaby" (Extended Remix)
- "Babble"
- "Out of Mind"
12": Elektra / 0 66664 (US)
- "Lullaby" (Extended Remix)
- "Homesick" (Live Version)
- "Untitled" (Live Version)
CD: Fiction / ficcd 29 (UK)
- "Lullaby" (Remix)
- "Babble"
- "Out of Mind"
- "Lullaby" (Extended Remix)
- gatefold 3" CD
CD: Elektra / 9 66664-2 (US)
- "Lullaby" (Remix)
- "Lullaby" (Extended Remix)
- "Homesick" (Live Version)
- "Untitled" (Live Version)
Personnel
- Robert Smith - vocals, 6-string bass, keyboards
- Simon Gallup - bass guitar
- Porl Thompson - guitar
- Boris Williams - drums, percussion
- Roger O'Donnell - keyboards
- Lol Tolhurst - "other instruments"
- Mark Saunders - remix
Charts
Other versions
The song has been sampled by various artists, including Just Jack in the song "Snowflakes" for his 2002 album The Outer Marker, Rachel Stevens in the song "All About Me" from her 2005 album Come and Get It, Sono in the song "Someday" from the 2007 album Panoramic View, and by metalcore outfit Motionless In White, in the song "Black Damask (The Fog), for their 2012 album Infamous. It was also sampled by hip hop artist Akala (rapper) in the song "I Don't Know" on his 2007 album Freedom Lasso. It has been covered by British post-punk revival band Editors on the compilation Radio 1: Established 1967, and by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant while on tour in 1995 (with Porl Thompson as support musician). Editors' version reappeared on Pictures of You â€" a tribute to Godlike Geniuses The Cure, which came with the 28 February 2009 issue of NME. "'Lullaby' is the greatest dark pop song… possibly of all years," said bassist Russell Leetch.
Faithless's 2006 album To All New Arrivals features "Lullaby" within the track "Spiders, Crocodiles, and Kryptonite", where Robert Smith has re-recorded the vocals.
In popular culture
The track was used as the backing to the trailer to the TV show The Secret Circle and was featured in the British TV shows Misfits, Fresh Meat, Being Human, as well as Episode 7 of American Horror Story: Hotel.
References
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics