The third single from their 1992 album Wish, this rarely performed track was a direct reference to Kafka’s Letters to Felice, which Robert Smith drew inspiration from when recording.
Smith originally wanted “Doing The Unstuck” to be the album’s third single but the record company insisted on “Elise...
[Verse 1]
Oh, Elise it doesn't matter what you say
I just can't stay here every yesterday
Like keep on acting out the same the way we act out
Every way to smile, forget
And make-believe we never needed
Any more than this
Any more than this
[Verse 2]
Oh, Elise it doesn't matter what you do
I know I'll never really get inside of you
To make your eyes catch fire the way they should
The way the blue could pull me in
If they only would, if they only would
At least I'd lose this sense of sensing
Something else that hides away
From me and you, there're worlds to part
With aching looks and breaking hearts
And all the prayers your hands can make
Oh, I just take as much as you can throw
And then throw it all away
Oh, I'll throw it all away
Like throwing faces at the sky, like throwing arms round yesterday
[Bridge]
I stood and stared wide-eyed in front of you
And the face I saw looked back the way I wanted to
But I just can't hold my tears away the way you do
Elise, believe I never wanted this
I thought this time I'd keep all of my promises
I thought you were the girl I always dreamed about
But I let the dream go
And the promises broke and make-believe ran out
[Verse 3]
So, Elise it doesn't matter what you say
I just can't stay here every yesterday
Like keep on acting out the same the way we act out
Every way to smile, forget
And make-believe we never needed
Any more than this
Any more than this
[Outro]
And every time I try to pick it up
Like falling sand
As fast as I pick it up
It runs away through my clutching hands
But there's nothing else I can really do
There's nothing else I can really do
There's nothing else I can really do
At all
A Letter to Elise was written by Simon Gallup & Pearl Thompson & Boris Williams & Perry Bamonte & Robert Smith.
A Letter to Elise was produced by Dave Allen & The Cure.
The Cure released A Letter to Elise on Tue Apr 21 1992.
AS WITH EVERY CURE ALBUM, CERTAIN LITERARY WORKS PROVIDED TOUCHSTONES… ‘A LETTER TO ELISE’ DREW STRANGE INSPIRATION FROM KAFKA'S 'LETTERS TO FELICE' #TIMSTWITTERLISTENINGPARTY #WISHLISTENINGPARTY— The Cure (@thecure) November 25, 2022