Lullaby

Robert Smith has often said that many of his songs (including most songs on the album The Head on the Door) were inspired by nightmares.

This discussion about "Lullaby" is found here: grammy.com/news/nightmares-of-the-cures-robert-smith

Meanwhile, devotees of the Cure continue to debate the source of the song's subject matter, which feels like a hallucinogenic take on Mary Howitt's early 19th century poem, "The Spider And The Fly" (an inspiration Smith makes explicit when he whispers something reminiscent of the poem's opening line near the end of the song).

While Smith most often attributes "Lullaby" to childhood nightmares, fans have speculated that it's actually a metaphor for everything from depression to addiction and abuse. The latter interpretation was further fueled by a portion of an MTV interview where Smith talks about the song. "One particular night, my uncle burst through the window, and he did unspeakable things," said Smith, before adding with a laugh, "He didn't really."

Pope [the director of the music video] is quick to point out that his friend and collaborator's knack for imaginative storytelling often spills over into real life. "He's one of the hugest liars, but in a lovely cuddly sort of way," he says. "He frames his story however he wants to. So maybe that's one of his, shall we say, slightly made-up stories."

This song is about Sexual Abuse regardless of what Rob Smith says, the way the song describes these sensations is comparable to rape.

robert wrote this about a recurring nightmare he would have as a child.

child molestation. predatory imagery. anyone can take any meaning from a song, it's neither right or wrong. the artist's intent isn't always met. but this one sounds like it's either subconsciously or consciously about child abuse.

I absolutely love the arrangement of this song. It sounds extremely eerie and intense. I definitely recommend listening to it :0)

I can definitely see the drug addiction thing (or any addiction in general), the nightmare notion, the depression idea, and the alien abduction perspective was also interesting. But, personally I always though it was about rape/ molestation… possibly incest because maybe this is not the first time it’s happened, the boy seems to be waiting in shear terror expecting this abuse, hoping that it won‘t happen again, but then realizing (as if it’s something new) that he was just lying to himself and that it will happen again when he sees the movement in the corner of the room . The little boy (the victim) lying in his bed at night waiting for the man (the spiderman) to come and take advantage of him, and really there is nothing he can do about it, he is helpless. He will be “devoured” (the spiderman is having me for dinner tonight) by him. "Be still, be calm, be quiet now my precious boy ,Don't struggle like that or I will only love you more" .Though he resists and tries to fight him off, that only makes the guy want him more, since he gets off on the power and control, and if the boy was willing it would make him less desirable. But maybe that’s just my twisted mind’s interpretation. Anyway, love this song! It’s eerie, heavy, and sick… but just sounds so beautiful!

to me this song is about spider-man and him trying to get rid of the symbiote that eventually becomes venom. if you're a nerd like me you'll get it.

This song means just that, nightmares. How things that are supernatural are so real. To me it means many different things. One of which is abuse. I also agree with the drug meaning too. Also I think it has to do with relationship "For its much too late to get away" when you realize you have already made a commitment.... My thoughts are soo boggled. I listen to this song constantly I love The Cure.

i love this song, so creepy and haunting, but still beautiful.

I think it's about Robert Smith's creepy dining experience with Peter Parker's alter-ego.