Flaxen, the dress is born
Crush a crushing stone
Tie a starching walls
Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form

Flaxen, the dress is old
Fingers, this dress is tied
Tie a starching walls
Wake takes a mumbling form

Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form

Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a

Wake takes a mumbling form
Wake takes a mumbling form

Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a
Wake takes a

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cocteau Twins' "Alas Dies Laughing" may at first seem cryptic and difficult to understand. The song features a repeated image of a flaxen dress, and the phrase "wake takes a mumbling form" is repeated throughout. The tone of the song is haunting and atmospheric, with the ethereal quality that is typical of Cocteau Twins' music.

One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that they relate to the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of life. The flaxen dress may represent youth or beauty, which fades over time. The crushing stone could be a symbol of the weight of mortality, and the starching walls may signify the attempts to hold back or resist the inevitable. The repeated phrase "wake takes a mumbling form" could suggest the difficulty of grasping the meaning of life or understanding one's place in the world.

Another possible interpretation is that the song is about the loss of innocence or a traumatic experience. The flaxen dress could again represent youth or purity, but the fact that it is "old" now suggests that something has happened to tarnish it. The tying of the dress may signify the violation of boundaries, and the mumbling form of the wake could indicate the confusion and disorientation that follow a traumatic event.

Line by Line Meaning

Flaxen, the dress is born
A yellow dress is being created

Crush a crushing stone
Destroy a difficult obstacle

Tie a starching walls
Secure an unyielding boundary

Wake takes a mumbling form
The awakening takes on an ambiguous shape

Flaxen, the dress is old
The yellow dress is now aged

Fingers, this dress is tied
The dress is tightly fastened using one's fingers

Tie a starching walls
Secure an unyielding boundary

Wake takes a mumbling form
The awakening takes on an ambiguous shape

Wake takes a
The awakening takes on