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".
Cico Buff
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see your singing is so vague
His joined her love so little
Don't care if you're fickle, oh that I find
So many stars take care of me
Take care of those they love
My love has done right
Love me so, love little
So you see now the sun is out
Love will accieve no ends
I can't be fickle, oh that I find
So many stars take care of me
Take care of those they love
Our love has done right
They know where they like it
All of love flow 'round of me
Strain and love me
Don't care if you're fickle, oh that I find [Repeat: x 4]
They know whether I come
(We flow and we fall)
I love for mine
(We fall down)
Strain and love me
(These stars that love)
So many stars take care of me
(We flow and we flow)
All of love flow 'round me
(Our love comes down)
Our love comes down
(These stars I love)
They know whether I come
(We flow and we fall)
Full of love fall down
(Our love comes down)
Strain and love me
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins's song Cico Buff are shrouded in mystery and open to interpretation. The song may be discussing the fleeting nature of love and how it can be hard to hold on to. The first stanza suggests that the singer's love is not reciprocated, as "love finds off little" and their "singing is so vague." But despite this, the singer doesn't care if they're fickle, indicating a willingness to love despite any potential disappointment. The second stanza seems to be more optimistic, with the singer saying that "love will achieve no ends" and that they "can't be fickle." The final stanza again reiterates the theme of the first, with the singer once more saying they don't care if their love interest is fickle, indicating that they are resigned to their current situation.
Overall, the lyrics to Cico Buff are highly symbolic and leave much room for interpretation. The song may be about the difficulty of finding love and holding onto it, or it may be about the search for meaning in life. The repeating refrain of "Don't care if you're fickle, oh that I find" suggests a sense of acceptance and resignation, possibly indicating that the singer has come to terms with the fact that love is not always easy.
Line by Line Meaning
Today love finds off little
Love seems to be scarce today
You see your singing is so vague
Your singing is unclear and uncertain
His joined her love so little
Their love has been limited
Don't care if you're fickle, oh that I find
I don't mind if you're indecisive, that's what I realize
So many stars take care of me
There are many people who care for me
Take care of those they love
They take care of those who are dear to them
My love has done right
I feel like my love has been successful so far
Love me so, love little
Love me immensely, but at the same time, in a modest way
So you see now the sun is out
The situation has improved and things seem brighter now
Love will achieve no ends
Love may not necessarily lead to success or accomplishment
I can't be fickle, oh that I find
I can't be unsteady or unreliable, that's what I realize
They know where they like it
They know what they prefer
All of love flow 'round of me
I am surrounded by love
Strain and love me
Put in effort to care for me and love me
They know whether I come
They know if I'll show up or not
(We flow and we fall)
We experience ups and downs in life
I love for mine
I love for my own reasons or self-interest
(We fall down)
We stumble and fail sometimes
(These stars that love)
These people who care for me
(We flow and we flow)
We keep moving and adapting
(Our love comes down)
Our love reaches a conclusion
Our love has done right
Our love has been successful
(These stars I love)
These people whom I care for
Full of love fall down
Overwhelming love can lead to failure
Strain and love me
Put in effort to care for me and love me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE, ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind