The Cure

The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I've got into a row on Youtube with a guy who says the lyrics to All Cats Are Grey are degrading to women, and he has cited these two lines -

"In the caves
The textures coat my skin"

I don't think English is his first language, and we are all free to read absolutely anything into Robert's lyrics we like, but it just seemed a huge surprise to me.

His reply also referenced "All I want to do is kill her", "M" and "Play for Today".

I know M is about when Robert thought his wife was having an affair, so I don't see how anyone could say it is degrading to women, maybe one certain woman, but having read the lyrics here, I can't see it. I can't see PFT as degrading either, and although I don't know "All I want to do..." that well, but I would say a song about killing an individual, whatever you might think about that idea, cannot also be degrading to half the human population.

I've pointed this out, and stated that the millions of female fans of the Cure would have raised this if it was an issue.

Does anyone else think like this?

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I have no idea why this guy thinks these lyrics are degrading to women, that's a weird thought and I cannot see his point!

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I don't think they're degrading to women and I can't see why that stranger would think that way, ha.

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

That is really weird... I always thought that song was about death... all cats are grey in the dark... we're all the same in death... I could be way off, but I still don't see how it could possibly be degrading to women?

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

i am definitely not seeing how any Cure song is degrading to women

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

Here's the actual Youtube page, you may have to scroll down.

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=0oSBK-JS-O0

He (I've assumed he's a he, could be wrong) is a poet, and apparently he is often misunderstood...!

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

what about "Object" ?? hahaha
Seriously though, my take is that this song is tongue-in-cheek actually...cos, come on, who in this day and age would openly admit that he objectifies women? I think RS is making fun of guys (who do that) in "Object"...("got no objections to you touching me there!")...cos, well, he's got a mom and sisters and wife etc. and if he actually meant the words personally, he'd most likely get his butt kicked by all of them! ha ha

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I dunno, that sounds pretty strange. I have no idea why he would think that. Maybe he's new to The Cure...? But, in all of the two years I've been listening to The Cure, that thought has never crossed my mind.

In All Cats are Grey, those lyrics have nothing to do with degrading women. I think he was just trying to find an excuse to say that.

In "All I Have to Do Is Kill Her", I guess you could say that's degrading, but not really. I mean, he could be talking about anybody (men included), not just women. Besides, he's only talking about one person. However, I still wouldn't use the word "degrading." As for "PFT", that song is about a relationship, so that is not degrading women as a whole, mainly just one person. I mean, we all have those emotions in that song sometime, who they are directed to shouldn't matter, especially if it's only one person. "M" is the same way, I mean, you guessed it, only ONE person is talked about. I guess I can understand what he means, saying women, because all of the songs are about women, but most of the songs are about relationships. I mean, if Robert was gay and was talking about relationships with men in his songs, no one would say that he was being "degrading" to men. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

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I know M is about when Robert thought his wife was having an affair,

really? I always thought he was looking at himself in a mirror, and singing the song to himself!
"Hello, image..."
Where did you hear your interpretation?

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I'd always thought the first line was "Hello, we meet"...which doesn't make much sense, but fits with the song being about a relationship.

I was surprised to find it was "Hello image" which I can't really make sense of in isolation or in the song.

I've read in a couple of places "M" is about his wife Mary, and RS thinking she was having an affair.

Re: Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

Daveyraveygravey wrote:
I'd always thought the first line was "Hello, we meet"...which doesn't make much sense, but fits with the song being about a relationship.

I was surprised to find it was "Hello image" which I can't really make sense of in isolation or in the song.

I've read in a couple of places "M" is about his wife Mary, and RS thinking she was having an affair.

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

What the artist creates is not for us to judge. If it bothers you then don't buy it.

Re: Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

Happilyeverafter wrote:
what about "Object" ?? hahaha
Seriously though, my take is that this song is tongue-in-cheek actually...cos, come on, who in this day and age would openly admit that he objectifies women? I think RS is making fun of guys (who do that) in "Object"...("got no objections to you touching me there!")...cos, well, he's got a mom and sisters and wife etc. and if he actually meant the words personally, he'd most likely get his butt kicked by all of them! ha ha

Re: Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

Happilyeverafter wrote:
what about "Object" ?? hahaha
Seriously though, my take is that this song is tongue-in-cheek actually...cos, come on, who in this day and age would openly admit that he objectifies women? I think RS is making fun of guys (who do that) in "Object"...("got no objections to you touching me there!")...cos, well, he's got a mom and sisters and wife etc. and if he actually meant the words personally, he'd most likely get his butt kicked by all of them! ha ha

Re: The lyrics - degrading to women?!

I read it an interview between a reporter and Tolhurst that Lol actually wrote the song 'All Cats Are Grey' and that it was supposedly about his Mother who had died shortly before. . .therefore if this holds true, then 'all Cats Are Grey' could not possibly in any way be degrading to women.