‘In Between Days’ (sometimes listed as ‘Inbetween Days’ or ‘In-Between Days’) is a song by the English rock band The Cure, released on 19 July 1985 as the first single from the band's sixth album The Head on the Door. The song was an international success. In the UK, it was the band's ninth chart single and their fourth consecutive Top 20 hit; while in the US it was their first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 99. It was a Top 20 hit in Australia and New Zealand and also charted in several European countries, increasing the popularity of the band.
The opening lines, 'Yesterday I got so old, I felt like I could die,' immediately set a tone of reflection and regret. The protagonist is grappling with the weight of aging and the sense of mortality that often comes with significant life changes, such as the end of a relationship. This feeling of getting 'so old' can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the weariness and emotional exhaustion that comes from heartbreak. The repetition of 'yesterday' underscores the idea that these feelings are fresh, the wounds are new, and the past is hauntingly close. As the song progresses, the lyrics oscillate between a desire for the departed lover to 'go on' and a desperate plea for them to 'come back.' This push and pull reflect the inner conflict of wanting to move on while still yearning for reconciliation. The line 'That it couldn't be me and be her in between without you' suggests a love triangle or the presence of another person who has come between the singer and their love interest. The repeated 'without you' drives home the sense of emptiness and the irreplaceable nature of the person they've lost. The Cure manages to encapsulate the universal struggle of wanting to heal and move forward while being tethered to the past by unresolved feelings and memories.
The video was filmed on 18 June 1985 at Fulham Studios, London and created by Tim Pope. The video depicts the band playing, enhanced by 360-degree shots and drawn-in, colourful socks. Robert Smith had a camera, held by cables, which he could push away and hold at will; as did Porl Thompson, fixed on his guitar. Tim Pope said of the video "I think Robert is a true English eccentric, you see. He's an absolute nutcase; he's absolutely mad. Therefore, the films are very easy because I just do a close-up of his face and let him go a bit mad." Smith has stated that it was one of his favourite Cure videos, feeling "it captures the song", saying "We wanted to make a video that portrayed us as we are, without looking glamorous or anything, because I got very fed up with seeing people strutting and preening in videos. I think it’s the most tedious thing in the world, seeing the same people with different faces."
‘In Between Days’ is widely regarded as one of the Cure's best songs. In 2019, Billboard ranked the song number three on their list of the 40 greatest Cure songs, and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number two on their list of the 30 greatest Cure songs. John Leland at Spin said, "It has the bittersweet feel of a New Order record, with a hyperstrummed acoustic guitar for depth. The boys even offer a genuine glimmer of hope, and the tune fairly breezes by on its own momentum."
Label – Fiction
Songwriter – Robert Smith
Producers – Robert Smith, Dave Allen
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Yesterday I got so old
I felt like I could die
Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Go on, go on, just walk away
Go on, go on, your choice is made
Go on, go on, and disappear
Go on, go on away from here
[Chorus]
And I know I was wrong when I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her in between
Without you
Without you
[Verse 2]
Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child
Yesterday, away from you
It froze me deep inside
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Come back, come back, don't walk away
Come back, come back, come back today
Come back, come back, why can't you see?
Come back, come back, come back to me
[Chorus]
And I know I was wrong when I said it was true
That it couldn't be me and be her in between without you
Without you
Without you, without you
[Outro]
Without you, without you
Without you, without you