The band's early work drew influence from Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division. After signing with the British record label 4AD in 1982, they released their debut album Garlands later that year. The addition of Raymonde in 1983 solidified their final lineup, which produced their biggest hit in the UK, "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops", peaking at No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1988, Cocteau Twins signed with Capitol Records in the United States, distributing their fifth album, Blue Bell Knoll, through a major label in the country. After the 1990 release of their most critically acclaimed album, Heaven or Las Vegas, the band left 4AD for Fontana Records, where they released their final two albums.
After nearly 20 years together, the band disbanded in 1997 in part due to issues stemming from the disintegration of Fraser and Guthrie's romantic relationship. In 2005, the band announced that they would reunite to headline Coachella and embark on a world tour but the reunion was cancelled a month later after Fraser refused to perform on stage with Guthrie. In a 2021 interview, Raymonde confirmed that Cocteau Twins "will never reform".
Cherry-Coloured Funk
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
You steam a lens stable eyes and glass
Not get pissed off through my bird lips as good news
Still being cried and laughed at from behind
Down far behind this fabulous, my turn rules
Beetles and eggs and blues and bells and eggs and blues
Beetles and eggs and blues and pour a little everything else
You steam a lens stable eyes and glass
Not get pissed off through my bird lips as good news
You'll hang the hearts black and dull as the night
We hanged your pass and start being as you in ecstasy
(Still being cried and laughed at before)
Should I be sewn in, hugged, I can by not saying
(Still being cried and laughed at from light to blue)
And should I be hugged and tugged down through this tiger's masque
And should I be sung and unbroken by not saying
You mind not saying
He'll hang that heart's black and dull as the night
(Still being cried and laughed at from behind me)
We hanged your pass and star being as you in ecstasy
(Still being cried and laughed at from behind me)
Should I be sung and unbroken by not saying
(Still being cried and laughed at from behind me)
Hugged and tugged down through this tiger's masque for key
Interpreting Cocteau Twins' Cherry-Coloured Funk is like trying to decipher a surreal dream. The verses are littered with nonsensical images like beetles, eggs, and blues, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The chorus seems to be the only concrete part of the song, with a repeated plea to "not get pissed off through my bird lips as good news." This could suggest that the speaker is trying to deliver some good news, but their way of communicating it is causing irritation.
The second half of the song is just as enigmatic as the first. The lines "You'll hang the hearts black and dull as the night / We hanged your pass and start being as you in ecstasy" again suggest that there is some kind of message being delivered, but it's delivered in such an abstract way that it's hard to understand. The repetition of "still being cried and laughed at" throughout the song may indicate a feeling of being misunderstood or not taken seriously.
Overall, the lyrics to Cherry-Coloured Funk create a surreal and dreamlike world that is difficult to interpret. The repeated pleas to not get angry or upset could suggest a desire for the listener to be more open-minded and receptive to new ideas or ways of communicating.
Line by Line Meaning
Beetles and eggs and blues and pour a little everything else
Mixing various emotions and experiences, good and bad
You steam a lens stable eyes and glass
You have a steady and clear vision
Not get pissed off through my bird lips as good news
I will not let my words and emotions be misunderstood as negative
Still being cried and laughed at from behind
I'm still experiencing judgment and ridicule from others
Down far behind this fabulous, my turn rules
Despite this, I'm still determined to follow my own path
Beetles and eggs and blues and bells and eggs and blues
Repeating the mixture of emotions, experiences, and sensations
You'll hang the hearts black and dull as the night
Others may try to darken and suppress my emotions
We hanged your pass and start being as you in ecstasy
I will follow my own desires and passions despite opposition
Should I be sewn in, hugged, I can by not saying
I have the power to hide my true feelings and conform to expectations
And should I be hugged and tugged down through this tiger's masque
Even if I conform to expectations, I may still feel trapped and oppressed
And should I be sung and unbroken by not saying
Alternatively, I can choose to be true to myself and speak my mind
You mind not saying
I may risk judgment and ridicule, but I won't let that stop me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE, ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind