In Between Days

For other uses, see In Between Days (disambiguation).

"In Between Days" (sometimes listed as "Inbetween Days" or "In-Between Days") is a song by the English rock band The Cure, released on 19 July 1985 as the first single from the band's sixth album The Head on the Door.

"In Between Days"
Single by The Cure
from the album The Head on the Door
B-side	"The Exploding Boy" "A Few Hours After This..."
Released	19 July 1985 (1985-07-19)[1]
Recorded	1985
Studio	Angel Recording Studios, London
Genre	Alternative rock[2] jangle pop[3]
Length	2:57
Label	Fiction
Songwriter(s)	Robert Smith
Producer(s)	Robert Smith Dave Allen
The Cure singles chronology
"The Caterpillar" (1984) "In Between Days" (1985) "Close to Me" (1985)
Music video
"In Between Days" on YouTube

The song was an international success. In the UK, it was the band's ninth chart single and their fourth consecutive Top 20 hit;^[4] while in the US it was their first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 99.^[5] It was a Top 20 hit in Australia and New Zealand^[6] and also charted in several European countries,^[7][8] increasing the popularity of the band.

Music video

The video was filmed on 18 June 1985 at Fulham Studios, London and created by Tim Pope. The video depicts the band playing, enhanced by 360-degree shots and drawn-in, colourful socks. Robert Smith had a camera, held by cables, which he could push away and hold at will; as did Porl Thompson, fixed on his guitar.^[9]

Tim Pope said of the video "I think Robert is a true English eccentric, you see. He's an absolute nutcase; he's absolutely mad. Therefore, the films are very easy because I just do a close-up of his face and let him go a bit mad." Smith has stated that it was one of his favourite Cure videos, feeling "it captures the song", saying "We wanted to make a video that portrayed us as we are, without looking glamorous or anything, because I got very fed up with seeing people strutting and preening in videos. I think it’s the most tedious thing in the world, seeing the same people with different faces."^[10]

Reception

"In Between Days" is widely regarded as one of the Cure's best songs. In 2019, Billboard ranked the song number three on their list of the 40 greatest Cure songs,^[11] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number two on their list of the 30 greatest Cure songs.^[12]

John Leland at Spin said, "It has the bittersweet feel of a New Order record, with a hyperstrummed acoustic guitar for depth. The boys even offer a genuine glimmer of hope, and the tune fairly breezes by on its own momentum."^[13]

Track listing

UK 7" single

1. "In Between Days"
2. "The Exploding Boy"

UK 12" single

1. "In Between Days"
2. "The Exploding Boy"
3. "A Few Hours After This"

U.S. 7" single

1. "In Between Days"
2. "Stop Dead"

U.S./Canadian 12" single

1. "In Between Days"
2. "In Between Days" (Extended version)
3. "Stop Dead"

UK CD

1. "In Between Days" (2:55)
2. "The Exploding Boy" (2:52)
3. "A Few Hours After This" (2:25)
4. "Six Different Ways (Live)" (3:24)
5. "Push (Live)" (4:33)
6. "In Between Days" (2:55) (video)

Personnel

• Robert Smith – vocals, guitar, six-string bass
• Porl Thompson – keyboards
• Simon Gallup – bass
• Boris Williams – drums
• Lol Tolhurst – keyboards

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[14]	16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]	31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16]	26
UK Singles Chart	15
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	99
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	39

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[17]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[18]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Studio versions

Year	Artist	Album
1990	John Eddie	Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary
2000	Luka Bloom	Keeper of the Flame
2003	Ben Folds	Speed Graphic
2003	Sunfactor	One Thousand Screaming Children
2005	Korn	Unplugged
2005	La Portuaria	Rio
2006	Sunshiners	Sunshiners
2008	Mumm-Ra	Out of the Question EP
2008	Blackblack	Perfect as Cats
2008	Fightstar	Alternate Endings
2009	Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly	Covers
2011	Kim Wilde	Snapshots
2015	Tigers Jaw	Devinyl Splits No. 3: Tigers Jaw x Kevin Devine
2017	Karen Souza	Velvet Vault

Other versions

• A live version of the song was released on The Rifles' single "She's Got Standards".
• The song was covered by Face to Face and is featured in the film Not Another Teen Movie.
• The song was covered by Superchunk as part of the first AV Undercover Series by The A.V. Club.
• The song was covered by Paramore during an acoustic set on Sirius XM Radio in 2013.
• The song was covered by Manic Street Preachers, who performed it at various festivals and at their show at Shepherd's Bush Empire to mark Absolute Radio's tenth anniversary.
• The song was covered by LUAMEL, a South Korean boy band, for the Apple TV+ produced television series, Pachinko, at the end of Episode 4.^[19]