“M” was one of the earliest songs written for Seventeen Seconds. It was written before the previous album Three Imaginary Boys was released.
The letter M as the song’s title is an abbreviation of Mary, the first name of Mary Poole, who was Robert Smith’s girlfriend at the time; the two later marrie...
[Verse 1]
Hello image
Sing me a line from your favourite song
Twist and turn but you're trapped in the light
All the directions were wrong
[Refrain 1]
You'll fall in love with somebody else tonight
[Verse 2]
Help yourself
But tell me the words before you fade away
You reveal all the secrets to remember the end
And escape someday
[Refrain 2]
You'll fall in love with somebody else again tonight
[Verse 3]
Take a step
You move in time but it's always back
The reasons are clear, your face is drawn
And ready for the next attack
M was written by Robert Smith & Simon Gallup & Lol Tolhurst.
M was produced by Robert Smith & Mike Hedges.
As part of a Q&A in the Cure News #3 fanzine from 1987, frontman Robert Smith said the song was written about:
mary