3 Sad Anthems by The Cure That Prove the Songwriting Genius of Robert Smith

Since The Cure debuted in 1979 with Three Imaginary Boys, the post-punk legends have perfected the sad anthem. And Robert Smith’s songwriting, voice, and guitar playing have shaped generations of artists, from Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins to Olivia Rodrigo. Smith didn’t just craft goth hits. His band helped create a community of like-minded outsiders who finally felt like they belonged somewhere. Here are three anthems that show how The Cure did it.

“Pictures Of You”

Photographs are evidence that it happened. It’s why we use our phones to document events, experiences, and people. They solidify memories into forever—a bulwark against fading glimpses of recollections. But photographs, like grief, are also the receipts for joy. When a relationship ends, or we’re no longer around someone we loved, the photos keep both the romance and the person as they once were. That’s “Pictures Of You”.

If only I’d thought of the right words,
I could have held on to your heart.

“Prayers For Rain”

Disintegration remains one of my favorite albums. When The Cure recorded its masterpiece, Robert Smith was sinking into an abyss of despair. The bleak guitar riff recalls Joy Division. And as the band’s slow groove propels forward, Smith sings, “You shatter me, your grip on me / A hold on me so dull it kills.” The line guts me every time. It’s a dullness, a dreary kind of tedium that feels impossible to escape. As gloomy as it all sounds, this record gave many sad kids hope because they no longer felt alone.

“Just Like Heaven”

On paper, “Just Like Heaven” feels like the sunny side of The Cure. Yet even with the heartfelt promises, the deep oceans, the essence of a dream, there’s a quiet desperation in the lyrics. It’s the thought of how everything comes to an end. The threat of losing the people we love. It’s how laughter often imitates crying and why we sometimes feel sad during happy moments. In the song, Smith’s girlfriend asks, “Why won’t you ever know that I’m in love with you?” When he says you’re just like a dream, maybe he means she’s like an aspiration. But also, an experience that he fears will end when he finally wakes up.

Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images