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".
Beatrix
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every week, Move is small
When he cared, When he did love
When he knew, When he'd fall
I hear she'd fall, Ha, she fell
Here she'd fall, Ha, she fell
[Repeat: x3]
Fallen on, Fallen on me
Fall
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins' song Beatrix are abstract and open to interpretation. The repetition of phrases creates a hypnotic effect that adds to the dreamlike quality of the music. The first lines suggest a sense of time passing slowly, with the singer noting that "Every week, Move is small." This could refer to a feeling of stagnation or a lack of progress in a relationship or personal life. The next few lines seem to describe a relationship that once had meaning, with the singer recalling a time when "he cared" and they "did love." However, this love has now become a memory, as the singer notes "When he knew, When he'd fall." The repetition of "Ha, she fell" may suggest a sense of disillusionment or disappointment in this past love.
The second half of the song repeats the phrase "Fallen on, Fallen on do we/Fallen on, Fallen on me" three times. The meaning of these lines is unclear, but they could suggest a sense of shared struggles or hardships affecting both the singer and the person they refer to as "we." Alternatively, the repetition of "Fallen on" could be read as a metaphor for literal falling, or a sense of being lost or trapped in a difficult situation. The overall effect of the song is haunting and mesmerizing, with the lyrics adding to the ethereal quality of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Every week, Move is small
Every week, our relationship feels smaller and less significant
When he cared, When he did love
Back when he still cared for me and loved me
When he knew, When he'd fall
When he was aware of his feelings and would allow himself to fall in love
I hear she'd fall, Ha, she fell
I heard she also fell in love, and possibly suffered the same consequences
Here she'd fall, Ha, she fell
Even here, in our seemingly insignificant town, love still has a profound impact
Fallen on, Fallen on do we
We have both fallen in love and are dealing with the aftermath
Fallen on, Fallen on me
I feel the weight of the consequences of our failed love the most
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind