The Same Deep Water as You (The Cure song)
| "The Same Deep Water as You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by the Cure | ||||
| from the album Disintegration | ||||
| Released | 2 May 1989 | |||
| Recorded | November 1988 – February 1989 | |||
| Studio | Hookend Recording Studios (Checkendon, Oxfordshire) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 9:19 | |||
| Label | Fiction | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers | Robert Smith, David M. Allen | |||
| The Cure singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Same Deep Water as You" is a song by English rock band the Cure, appearing as the ninth track on their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989). At 9 minutes and 19 seconds, it is the longest track on the album and is noted for its somber, immersive production that includes sound effects of a thunderstorm and falling rain.[1]
Background and composition
Frontman Robert Smith wrote the song during a period of introspection leading up to his 30th birthday. The track was recorded at Hookend Recording Studios (also known as Outside Studios) and mixed at RAK Studio Three.[2]
The song is characterized by its slow tempo and dense layers of instrumentation. It features a prominent Fender Bass VI melody played by Smith, supported by Simon Gallup's "sorrowful drone" of a bassline and a hypnotic, wave-like drum pattern by Boris Williams.[3] Lyrically, the song uses the metaphor of drowning to explore themes of devotion, shared despair, and a relationship reaching its literal or figurative "depths."
Critical reception
The song is frequently cited as a definitive example of the band's "gothic" and atmospheric style. Pitchfork described the album's appeal as "comforting, practically womblike," with "The Same Deep Water as You" serving as a "soundtrack to that feeling that everything around you is meaningful."[4] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the track's role in the album's "alluring" gloomy soundscapes.[1]
Live performances
"The Same Deep Water as You" has been performed live over 130 times. It was a centerpiece of the 1989 **Prayer Tour**, with a notable live recording appearing on the live album Entreat (1991).[5] During the band's **Reflections** and **Disintegration 30th Anniversary** shows, the song was performed in full, often accompanied by blue-hued atmospheric lighting and strobe effects to simulate a storm.
Personnel
- Robert Smith – vocals, six-string bass, keyboards, producer
- Simon Gallup – bass guitar, keyboards
- Porl Thompson – guitar
- Boris Williams – drums
- Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
- Lol Tolhurst – "other instruments" (percussion)
- Production**
- David M. Allen – producer, engineer
- Robert Smith – producer
References
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Disintegration – The Cure | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "The Cure – Disintegration (Credits)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "The Art of Disintegration – Album Review for the Cure". Mississippi School of the Arts. 2 January 2021.
- ^ Ott, Chris (10 June 2010). "The Cure: Disintegration [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "The Same Deep Water as You by The Cure song statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 20 December 2025.