Robert Smith has a way of making joy sound like it’s about to shatter. If you’ve ever spent a rainy afternoon spiraling into the discography of The Cure, you know exactly what I mean. But there is one specific era, one specific vibe, that captures that manic, neon-soaked energy better than anything else. We’re talking about "Show Me Show Me Show Me," the opening plea of one of the greatest pop-rock songs ever written: In Between Days.
It’s iconic.
When you hear those acoustic guitars start strumming—that frantic, rhythmic drive—it doesn't matter if you're a goth kid from 1985 or a teenager discovering them on TikTok in 2026. You feel it. But there is a lot of confusion about this specific hook. Is it a song title? Is it a lyric? Why does everyone associate The Cure Show Me Show Me with a feeling of deep-seated nostalgia and a bit of a New Order rivalry?
Let's get into it.
The Hook That Defined an Era
The lyrics aren't just filler. "Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick" is the line that kicks off the 1985 hit "In Between Days" from the album The Head on the Door. At the time, The Cure was transitioning. They were moving away from the suffocating, grey-walled gloom of Pornography and into something... brighter? Sorta.
It was a colorful kind of sadness. Robert Smith had recently spent time playing with Siouxsie and the Banshees, and he came back to his own band with a renewed sense of what a "pop" song could actually be. He realized he could write hits without losing his soul. The "show me" line isn't just a request; it’s an invitation into a world that felt both intimate and massive. It’s about that desperate, dizzying need to understand someone else—or maybe just to be distracted from your own head.
People often search for The Cure Show Me Show Me because the hook is more memorable than the title itself. That’s the mark of a truly great piece of songwriting. If the first five seconds of a track can live rent-free in the collective consciousness for forty years, you’ve done something right.
The New Order "Controversy" (If You Can Call It That)
You can't talk about this song without mentioning New Order. Honestly, it’s one of those things music nerds love to argue about at 2:00 AM.
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When "In Between Days" dropped, the comparison was instant. The driving bassline, the synth flourishes, the upbeat tempo masking melancholic lyrics—it felt very much like the "Manchester Sound" that Bernard Sumner and company were perfecting. Robert Smith has actually been pretty open about this. He wasn't trying to steal their lunch money, but he was definitely influenced by the textures they were using.
It was a weird time. The post-punk scene was fracturing. You had bands going full-on synth-pop, while others were doubling down on guitars. The Cure did both. By using that "show me show me" hook over a bed of bright acoustic guitars and a heavy, thumping drum beat, they created a bridge between the two worlds.
Why "In Between Days" Still Hits in 2026
It’s the tempo. Most "sad" songs crawl. This one sprints.
The contrast between the upbeat music and lyrics like "Yesterday I got so old / I felt like I could die" is the secret sauce. It’s what makes The Cure, well, The Cure. You’re dancing, but you’re also kind of thinking about the passage of time and the inevitable decay of all your relationships. Fun, right?
But seriously, that’s why the song remains a staple. In the modern era of "vibe" music and lo-fi beats, there’s something refreshing about the raw, jagged energy of The Head on the Door era. It doesn't feel overproduced. It feels like five guys in a room trying to capture lightning in a bottle before the sun comes up.
The Head on the Door: The Context of the "Show Me" Magic
If you only know the hits, you’re missing the bigger picture. The Head on the Door was the first album where Smith really let the other band members contribute to the "vibe," even if he remained the primary architect.
- The Lineup: This featured the "classic" quintet: Robert Smith, Simon Gallup (returning after a falling out), Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, and Lol Tolhurst.
- The Sound: It’s eclectic. You’ve got the flamenco-style guitars on "The Blood" and the dark, brooding atmosphere of "Kyoto Song."
- The Impact: This was the record that broke them in America. Suddenly, the "spooky" band was on MTV every hour.
The "show me show me" hook was the gateway drug. It led listeners into a much weirder, much deeper discography. If you start with "In Between Days," you eventually end up at "The Same Deep Water As You," and by then, you’re a fan for life.
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Misconceptions About the Lyrics
I’ve heard people swear that the song is about magic tricks or literal illusions. It’s not.
Like most of Robert’s writing from the mid-80s, it’s about the push and pull of a relationship that’s probably already over. "The one that makes me scream, she said." It’s visceral. It’s about the power someone else has over your emotional state. The "trick" is the enchantment of love, or maybe the trick of how someone can make you feel everything and nothing at the exact same time.
There’s also a common mistake where people mix up the lyrics with "Just Like Heaven." While both songs share a certain DNA—the "Show Me" hook and the "Show me how you do it" opening of "Just Like Heaven"—they represent different phases of the band's ascent. "In Between Days" is the jittery, nervous energy of the mid-80s; "Just Like Heaven" is the polished, cinematic peak of the late 80s.
The Visual Identity of the Era
The music video for the song is just as important as the audio. Directed by Tim Pope—who basically shaped the visual language of the band—it features the band members blurred and distorted by colorful filters.
It looked like a neon fever dream.
It was a massive departure from the black-and-white, shadowy videos of their early years. This was the moment the "Goth" label started to feel too small for them. They were becoming a technicolor nightmare, and the world loved it. The "show me show me" line was delivered by a smeared, spinning Robert Smith, cementing the image of the messy hair and smeared lipstick as a global fashion statement.
How to Get That Sound
If you’re a musician trying to capture that The Cure Show Me Show Me magic, you need a few specific ingredients.
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First, the acoustic guitar. It’s not just strummed; it’s attacked. You need a 12-string if you can get your hands on one, or at least a very bright 6-string with fresh strings.
Second, the bass. Simon Gallup’s basslines are the melodic heart of the song. He plays high up on the neck, often using a flanger or chorus pedal to give it that "watery" texture.
Third, the synths. You’re looking for those mid-80s string patches. Nothing too realistic. You want it to sound like a machine trying its best to mimic an orchestra and failing in the most beautiful way possible.
Beyond the Single: What to Listen to Next
If the "show me" hook has you hooked, don't stop at the Greatest Hits album.
Check out the "In Between Days" B-sides like "The Exploding Boy" and "A Few Hours After This." Honestly, The Cure’s B-sides from this era are better than most bands' lead singles. They carry that same frantic, melodic energy but with a bit more experimentation.
Then, move on to Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. It’s a sprawling, messy, double-album masterpiece that takes the pop sensibilities of "In Between Days" and stretches them to the breaking point. It’s where you’ll find "Just Like Heaven," the spiritual successor to the "show me" vibe.
Action Steps for the Modern Fan
If you want to truly appreciate the legacy of this track and the "show me" hook, here is what you should actually do:
- Listen to the 12-inch Extended Mix. The way the intro builds is a masterclass in tension. It gives those acoustic guitars even more room to breathe.
- Watch the Tim Pope videos. Don't just stream the audio. The Cure is a visual experience. Look for the Staring at the Sea compilation if you can find it.
- Compare the live versions. Find a recording from the 1986 "The Cure in Orange" concert. The energy is raw, and you can hear how the song evolved once they started playing it to massive crowds.
- Read the liner notes. If you can get a physical copy of The Head on the Door, do it. Seeing the artwork while listening to the album changes the way you perceive the "brightness" of the music.
The Cure is one of those rare bands that managed to be both a cult obsession and a global phenomenon. "Show me, show me, show me" was the phrase that invited the mainstream into the shadows, and for many of us, we never really left. Whether you're here for the fashion, the basslines, or just the feeling of being "in between days," there’s always more to discover in Robert Smith’s cabinet of curiosities.