What do you think Killing an Arab means?

The Cure - Killing an Arab Meaning

Tagged:   No tags, suggest one.
Album cover for Killing an Arab album cover

Song Released: 1978


Killing an Arab Lyrics

Standing on the beach
With a gun in my hand
Staring at the sea
Staring at the sand
Staring down the barrel
At the arab on the ground
I can see his open mouth
But I hear no sound
I’m alive
I’m dead
I’m the stranger
Killing an arab

I...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    Modlovecat
    click a star to vote
    Jul 16th 2005 !⃝

    Inspired by Albert Camus' book The Stranger (also known as The Outsider). It is not a racist song, but still caused a lot of controversy because many people assumed it was due to the title. The book deals with existentialism, and the title "Killing An Arab" was taken from a passage where the main character thinks about the emptiness of life after killing a man on a beach.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 10th 2019 !⃝

    In my opinion: This is about his rant against his girlfriend at the time, this felt as killing afterwards. She is dark, therefore he mentions her an Arab.
    See also Fire in Cairo, about the 'fire' between them. It is about the woman he is is still with.
    It is the phenomenon that one can 'kill' the one he of she loves the most, because one is afraid for the real love.


More The Cure songs »


 


 


Submit Your Interpretation

[ want a different song? ]




Just Posted

Bohemian Rhapsody anonymous
Clocks anonymous
Good Riddance (Time of your Life) anonymous
Spiderwebs anonymous
Leningrad anonymous
Songbird anonymous
Russians anonymous
A Rush Of Blood To The Head anonymous
Breaking the Habit anonymous
Asking for It anonymous
Same Mistake anonymous
Suicide Hotline anonymous
Dollhouse anonymous
Severed OuroBorosGhost
Parade anonymous

(We won't give out your email)