Killing an Arab / 10:15 Saturday Night

The Cure's debut single is a brisk, tense post-punk interpretation of Albert Camus's existential novel 'The Stranger'. Robert Smith utilizes a descending, pseudo-Middle Eastern guitar scale to evoke the blinding heat of the Algerian beach described in the book. Despite its purely literary origins, the provocative title led to significant controversy and persistent misunderstandings throughout the band's career, prompting them to frequently alter the lyrics during live performances.