I Obviously Don't Understand Heaven

In May of 1987, when The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" was released, and for the 19 weeks it was on the charts, I was nowhere near a Top 40 radio station.

And I'm pretty sure I couldn't be happier.

There are a couple things I just don't get about this song:

     1.   Why it's listed as the 483rd greatest song of all time when it never even got above 40 on the radio charts
     2.   What the farnsworth is it trying to say?

It starts out with some decidedly PG-13 quotes from the singer's girlfriend:

"Show me, show me, show me, how you do that trick

The one that makes me scream," she said

"The one that makes me laugh," she said

And threw her arms around my neck

But before the first verse is over, she's getting all accusatory and whiney: 

"Why are you so far away?" she said

"Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you?

That I'm in love with you?"

Then things get all weird and poetic and I don't know if it's still the girlfriend talking or the singer:

You, soft and only

You, lost and lonely

You, strange as angels

Dancing in the deepest oceans

Twisting in the water

You're just like a dream

Just like a dream

Not only like a dream, but an actual dream, judging by the second verse:

Daylight licked me into shape

I must have been asleep for days

And moving lips to breathe her name

I opened up my eyes

And found myself alone

Alone

Alone above a raging sea

That stole the only girl I loved...

NOW I get it, he's singing about his dead girlfriend.

...And drowned her...

How sad!

...deep inside of me

Wait...what???

You, soft and only

You, lost and lonely
You, just like heaven

Soft...lost...lonely...HOW IS THAT JUST LIKE HEAVEN??!!?