# Killing an Arab > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Killing_an_Arab > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Killing_an_Arab.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_an_Arab > Source revision: 1353238262 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1978 single by the Cure "Killing an Arab" Single by the Cure from the album Boys Don't Cry B-side "10:15 Saturday Night" Released 22 December 1978 Recorded 20 September 1978 Genre Post-punk[1][2] Length 2:21 Label Small Wonder, Fiction Songwriters The Cure (Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst) Producer Chris Parry The Cure singles chronology "Killing an Arab" (1978) "Boys Don't Cry" (1979) Official audio "Killing an Arab" on YouTube "**Killing an Arab**" is the debut single by English rock band [the Cure](/source/The_Cure). It was recorded at the same time as their first album *[Three Imaginary Boys](/source/Three_Imaginary_Boys)* (1979), but not included on the album. However, it was included on the band's first US album, *[Boys Don't Cry](/source/Boys_Don't_Cry_(The_Cure_album))* (1980).[3] The song's title and lyrics reference [Albert Camus](/source/Albert_Camus)'s 1942 novella [*The Stranger*](/source/The_Stranger_(Camus_novel)). Because of the title, the song has drawn [controversy](/source/Controversy) for what critics have described as promoting violence against Arabs, which songwriter [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)) pinned on the public's lack of knowledge regarding the novel. Shortly after its release, Smith said, "It just happened that the main character in the book had actually killed an Arab, but it could have been a Scandinavian or an English [bloke](/source/Bloke)."[4] In 2003, Smith acknowledged that, "If I knew it before, I would have called it 'Standing on the Beach'. It would have avoided many troubles."[5] ## Lyrics and music Songwriter [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)) said the song "was a short poetic attempt at condensing my impression of the key moments in the 1942 novel *[L'Étranger](/source/The_Stranger_(Camus_novel))* (*The Stranger*) by [Albert Camus](/source/Albert_Camus)".[6] The lyrics describe a shooting on a beach, in which the titular [Arab](/source/Arab) is killed by the song's narrator; in Camus' story the protagonist, Meursault, shoots an Arab on a beach, overwhelmed by his surroundings. Meursault is condemned for his honesty about his feelings and is considered an outsider (or "[stranger](/source/Stranger)") because "he refuses to lie" and "doesn't play the game".[7] Upon release, *[Melody Maker](/source/Melody_Maker)* compared the song to "[Hong Kong Garden](/source/Hong_Kong_Garden_(song))" by [Siouxsie and the Banshees](/source/Siouxsie_and_the_Banshees). Music critic Ian Birch wrote: "As 'Hong Kong Garden' used a simple [Oriental](/source/Oriental)-styled [riff](/source/Riff) to striking effect, so '[Killing An] Arab' conjures up edginess through a [Moorish](/source/Moorish)-flavour guitar pattern".[8] This song lends two of its lines to the titles of one of the Cure's compilation albums, *[Standing on a Beach](/source/Standing_on_a_Beach)*, and to its CD/video counterpart *[Staring at the Sea](/source/Staring_at_the_Sea)*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Reception According to critic [Robert Christgau](/source/Robert_Christgau), the release of "Killing an Arab" caused controversy as seemingly promoting violence against Arabs.[9] A 1978 *[NME](/source/NME)* article described the song's title as "at first glance irresponsibly [racist](/source/Racist)," with Robert Smith responding, "It's not really racist, if you know what the song is about. It's not a call to kill Arabs."[4] In the US, the Cure's first compilation of singles, *[Standing on a Beach](/source/Standing_on_a_Beach)* (1986), was packaged with a sticker advising against racist usage of the song after a student DJ on WPRB Princeton offended listeners by insensitively introducing the track prior to playing it on the radio in October 1986.[10] Robert Smith and [Elektra Records](/source/Elektra_Records) requested that radio stations discontinue airing the song and saw the sticker as a compromise to prevent having to pull the album from sale entirely. Smith said that the song was "being used increasingly by certain [reactionary](/source/Reactionary) factions of the media, most notably by some particularly brainless DJ's, as a part of a wave of [anti-Arab](/source/Anti-Arab) feeling currently existing in some parts of America."[11] [Chris Parry](/source/Chris_Parry_(producer)), who produced the song, said that "if it was called 'The Stranger', we couldn't have had this problem."[12] Smith conceded in 2003 that he should have titled the song "Standing on the Beach" instead.[5] ## Variations of the lyrics The song saw controversy again during the [Persian Gulf War](/source/Gulf_War) and following the [September 11 attacks](/source/September_11_attacks).[13] The song was revived in 2005, when the Cure performed it at several European festivals. The lyrics, however, were changed from "Killing an Arab" to "Kissing an Arab". Smith added a whole new opening verse when the band performed it at the [Royal Albert Hall](/source/Royal_Albert_Hall), [London](/source/London), on 1 April 2006 as "Killing Another". The "killing another" lyric was also used during the 2007–2008 [4Tour](/source/4Tour). The band performed the song as "Killing an Ahab" with lyrics inspired by [Herman Melville](/source/Herman_Melville) on 2011's Reflections Tour.[14] During the band's 40th anniversary tour, the lyrics and title were changed back to "Killing an Arab".[15] The band performed the song as "Killing Another" to close out the final show on their tour in December 2022.[16] ## Track listing **7-inch single** 1. "Killing an Arab" 1. "[10:15 Saturday Night](/source/10%3A15_Saturday_Night)" ## Personnel - [Michael Dempsey](/source/Michael_Dempsey) – bass guitar, backing vocals - [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)) – guitar, lead vocals - [Lol Tolhurst](/source/Lol_Tolhurst) – drums ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mathews, Liam (2 August 2017). ["10 Ways The Sinner Is and Isn't Like The Cure's Song "Killing an Arab""](https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-sinner-the-stranger-the-cure-killing-an-arab/). *[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)*. Retrieved 9 March 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Breihan_2023_2-0)** Breihan, Tom (September 20, 2023). ["The Alternative Number Ones: The Cure's "Fascination Street"](https://stereogum.com/2236620/the-alternative-number-ones-the-cures-fascination-street/columns). *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)*. Retrieved May 8, 2026. (Subscription required.) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** De Muir, Harold. ["An Interview With Robert Smith of The Cure"](http://www.musicfanclubs.org/cure/press/I94.html). *Eastcoast Rocket*. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) Apter, Jeff (2008). *Never Enough: The Story of The Cure*. [Omnibus Press](/source/Omnibus_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780857120243](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780857120243). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) ["The Cure 2003"](http://www.picturesofyou.us/03/03-08-rockandfolk-fr-1.htm). *www.picturesofyou.us*. Retrieved 2022-12-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Cure News* number 11, October 1991 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Camus, Albert, *The Outsider*, Penguin Classics, 1989, p. 118 (afterword by Albert Camus, 8 January 1955) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Birch, Ian (24 March 1979). "Practical Poprock". *[Melody Maker](/source/Melody_Maker)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Robert Christgau - Creative Censorship"](https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/censor-87.php). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Pareles, Jon (21 January 1987). ["Rock Group Accedes to Arab Protest"](https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/21/arts/rock-group-accedes-to-arab-protest.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 5 February 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The Cure asks radio stations not to play 'Killing an Arab'"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/20/The-Cure-asks-radio-stations-not-to-play-Killing-an-Arab/5488538117200/). *UPI*. Retrieved 2022-12-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Robert Christgau: Creative Censorship"](https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/censor-87.php). *www.robertchristgau.com*. Retrieved 2022-12-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Robb, Sean K. (29 October 2001). ["'Oh God, not again': Robert Smith on Killing An Arab"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121212060451/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2001/10/29/oh-god-not-again-robert-smith-on-killing-an-arab/). *[Chart](/source/Chart_(magazine))*. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Bradshaw, Calum (20 July 2018). ["Killing an Arab: The Cure try to reclaim their most controversial single"](https://www.newstatesman.com/2018/07/killing-arab-the-cure-single-hyde-park). *[New Statesman](/source/New_Statesman)*. Retrieved 4 June 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The Cure Concert Setlist at British Summertime 2018 on July 7, 2018"](https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2018/hyde-park-london-england-63ea623f.html). *setlist.fm*. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["The Cure Concert Setlist at OVO Arena Wembley, London, England on December 13, 2022"](https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2022/ovo-arena-wembley-london-england-63bcaac7.html). *setlist.fm*. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2023. v t e The Cure Robert Smith Simon Gallup Roger O'Donnell Jason Cooper Reeves Gabrels Andy Anderson Perry Bamonte Michael Dempsey Matthieu Hartley Pearl Thompson Phil Thornalley Lol Tolhurst Boris Williams Studio albums Three Imaginary Boys Seventeen Seconds Faith Pornography The Top The Head on the Door Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me Disintegration Wish Wild Mood Swings Bloodflowers The Cure 4:13 Dream Songs of a Lost World Live albums Concert: The Cure Live Entreat Show Paris Bestival Live 2011 Compilations Boys Don't Cry Japanese Whispers Standing on a Beach/Staring at the Sea Galore Greatest Hits Join the Dots Remix albums Mixed Up Torn Down Mixes of a Lost World Extended plays The Peel Sessions Festival 2005 Hypnagogic States EP Video releases The Cure in Orange Trilogy Festival 2005 Tours The Cure: 'Reflections' Shows of a Lost World Related articles Discography Songs Band members Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure Babacar COGASM Fools Dance The Glove Levinhurst The Magazine Spies Presence Shelleyan Orphan Siouxsie and the Banshees Nocturne Hyæna Category v t e Albert Camus's The Stranger (1942) Film adaptations The Stranger (1967) Fate (2001) The Stranger (2025) Other adaptations "Killing an Arab" (1978 song) The Stranger (2013 comic book) The Meursault Investigation (2013 novel) Related A Happy Death (posthumous novel) Authority control databases MusicBrainz work --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Killing an Arab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_an_Arab) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_an_Arab?action=history)). 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