High by The Cure Lyrics Meaning – Soaring Emotions and Unattainable Dreams
Lyrics
As high as I might, I can’t get that high
The how you move, the way you burst the clouds
It makes me want to try
And when I see you sticky as lips
As licky as trips, I can’t lick that far
But when you pout, the way you shout out loud
It makes me want to start
And when I see you happy as a girl
That swims in a world of a magic show
It makes me bite my fingers through
To think I could’ve let you go
And when I see you take the same sweet steps
You used to take, I say
“I’ll keep on holding you in my arms so tight
I’ll never let you slip away”
And when I see you kitten as a cat
Yeah, as smitten as that, I can’t get that small
The way you fur, the how you purr
It makes me want to paw you all
And when I see you happy as a girl
That lives in a world of make-believe
It makes me pull my hair all out
To think I could’ve let you leave
And when I see you take the same sweet steps
You used to take, I know
I’ll keep on holding you in my arms so tight
They’ll never let you go (never let you go)
The Cure, known for their dark romanticism and textured soundscapes, often craft songs that resonate on multiple levels with their listeners. ‘High,’ a single from their 1992 album ‘Wish,’ is no exception. On the surface, the track pulses with the airiness of infatuation, but beneath its exuberant exterior lies a nuanced tapestry of longing and an acute awareness of human limitations.
Exploring ‘High’ takes us into a bildungsroman of emotions, every line a brushstroke on the canvas of introspection. The song’s ability to intertwine the ecstasy of love with the sorrow of the ephemeral is a signature move by frontman Robert Smith, who pens lyrics that are strikingly vivid and yet, hauntingly elusive, challenging the listener to uncover the deeper meanings within.
A Kite Too High to Reach – The Unrelenting Chase
The opening line ‘When I see you sky as a kite’ immediately lifts the listener into a realm of airy lightness, swiftly introducing the metaphor of unreachable heights. The lyrical persona expresses an admiration so profound that it touches on the divine, suggesting feelings of love or infatuation that elevate the subject to an almost celestial status, yet emphasizes human constraint with ‘I can’t get that high.’
The song can be seen as a pursuit, where the persona chases the lofty feeling of connectedness and joy embodied by their love interest. But it isn’t just about the pursuit of love—it’s the chase after an ideal state of being, a quest so intoxicating yet so elusive, it seems destined to leave the pursuer grounded, achingly close but never quite there.
Metaphors of Innocence and Earthly Limits – Purity vs. Desire
Using metaphors of ‘sticky as lips’ and ‘licky as trips,’ Smith plays off sensuality against the innocent allure of the subject. There’s a playful yet frustrated tone to these lines, speaking to the child-like desire to taste and touch everything that fascinates us, but with the adult knowledge that some things, no matter how tempting, are beyond our reach.
The dichotomy here is bittersweet; it’s a reminder of pure moments of childlike wonder that adulthood often tarnishes. ‘Sticky’ and ‘licky’ evoke imagery of candies and treats from childhood, desired but occasionally forbidden. The song waxes nostalgic while underscoring the impossibility of recapturing that unfettered indulgence.
The Magic Show – Escapism and the Hopes of Recapture
A standout line in ‘High’ compares the subject to ‘a girl that swims in a world of magic show.’ This vivid image evokes a sense of escapism and joy, likely a reference to the carefree days of youth or the early stages of love when everything feels possible and life is brimming with miracles.
However, the following line, ‘It makes me bite my fingers through,’ is an abrupt return to the reality of loss and regret. The magic show is ephemeral; as adults, we’re left to deal with the residual yearning for a time when happiness seemed unbounded and the pain of recognizing that some experiences are transient and cannot be replicated.
The Chorus: A Promise Wrapped in Desperation
The chorus, with its repetitions of ‘I’ll keep on holding you in my arms so tight,’ serves as a mantra of commitment but also hints at a fear of impermanence. The arm-wrapped embrace is symptomatic of the urgent need to maintain a grip on the joy that feels as though it’s slipping away with time.
Smith’s lyrics here are both comforting and claustrophobic, encapsulating the human yearning to freeze time and preserve moments of peak happiness. Yet the resolve is undercut by the underlying knowledge of the inevitable – that holding too tightly can sometimes ensure the very loss we’re trying to prevent.
A Reflection on Untouched Potential and The Haunting ‘What If?’
One of the song’s most compelling features is the recurring theme of potential – the ways in which love, life, and opportunity are both grasped and lost. Lines like ‘To think I could’ve let you go’ and ‘To think I could’ve let you leave’ serve as potent reminders of the choices that shape our lives and the haunts of paths not taken.
In these lyrics, there’s a haunting undertone of regret, a meditation on the fragility of human connection and the randomness of fate. Smith navigates these waters with lyrical finesse, leaving listeners to ponder their own memories of high hopes and lost chances, the silence between the notes filled with the echoes of ‘what if?’
