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".
02 five ten fiftyfold
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tenfold it blew apart
It halved it in half
And went gushing gust wind
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
And in hand a little hand
By taking it forward
It went gushing gust wind
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Wheezing and sneezing
Tenfold it blew apart
When gushing gust winds
Turned just up north
Wheezing and sneezing
In hand a little hand
By taking it forward
It went gushing gust wind
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Wheezing and sneezing
Tenfold it blew apart
When gushing gust winds
Turned just up north
Wheezing and sneezing and
Sneezing and wheezing and sneezing and
Sneezing and wheezing and sneezing and
Sneezing and wheezing and sneezing and
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
Five ten fiftyfold
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins' song "Five Ten Fiftyfold" are cryptic and somewhat nonsensical, yet they still manage to evoke a sense of wonder and excitement. The track begins with the lines "Wheezing and sneezing, tenfold it blew apart/ It halved it in half and went gushing gust wind." The imagery here is fragmented and difficult to parse, but it does seem to suggest a sudden, explosive force that overwhelms the senses.
The chorus of the song is the repetitive mantra "Five ten fiftyfold," which is also difficult to interpret but seems to symbolize a multiplying, accelerating power. The second verse repeats the opening lines almost verbatim, but adds the image of "a little hand" being taken forward. This could suggest a child being led on an adventure or journey, or simply the idea of something small being propelled by a larger force.
The final verse introduces a new element: the "gushing gust winds turned just up north." This hints at a broader context for the song's events, possibly suggesting a natural phenomenon like a storm or hurricane. Yet even as the song seems to be building toward a climax, it ends abruptly with the same repeated chorus: "Five ten fiftyfold." It's a tantalizingly enigmatic conclusion that leaves the listener to puzzle over the song's meaning long after it's over.
Line by Line Meaning
Wheezing and sneezing
Coughing and sneezing
Tenfold it blew apart
It blew apart at ten times its original force
It halved it in half
It reduced it to half of its original size
And went gushing gust wind
It was blown away by a strong gust of wind
Five ten fiftyfold
The situation was multiplied by 5, then 10, and then 50 times
And in hand a little hand
Holding a small hand
By taking it forward
By moving forward with the small hand in tow
Wheezing and sneezing
Coughing and sneezing
When gushing gust winds
During powerful gusts of wind
Turned just up north
Changed direction to the north
Sneezing and wheezing and sneezing and
Repeated cycles of coughing and sneezing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HaleG
one of the most underrated songs of the Cocteau Twins - love it! Thanks for uploading.
J
I love so much this video and song 🧡🖤