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".
Dials
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come from ascending sea.
Land, Land....
Land in places so dry.
Long, and I long.
Send!
Try, and I try.
Send boat of love..
Send, Float Leiber Boten
Try, and I try.
Send boat of love..
Send, Float Leiber Boten
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins' song "Dials" depict a sense of longing and distance, with the singer seemingly calling out for their lover to return to them. The first verse includes the lines "Unfurl, I am far / Come from ascending sea," which can be interpreted as the singer feeling stretched out and distant from their loved one, who may be across a great ocean or sea. This is followed by the repeated plea to "Send! Floatboat, bring my lover back," a request that is repeated throughout the song.
The second verse again emphasizes the sense of distance, with the phrase "Land in places so dry" suggesting that the singer and their lover are separated by vast stretches of desert or barren land. This verse also introduces the phrase "Leiber Boten," which appears twice in the final verse. "Leiber Boten" is German for "dear messenger," and its appearance here may suggest that the singer sees their lover as a kind of messenger or intermediary between themselves and the world.
Overall, the lyrics of "Dials" create a picture of longing and distance, with the singer calling out to their lover and hoping for their return. The repetition of the "floatboat" refrain throughout the song emphasizes this sense of longing, while the use of phrases like "ascending sea" and "Leiber Boten" add a mysterious, slightly mystical tone to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Unfurl, I am far
I am expanding, my consciousness is distant.
Come from ascending sea
I arrived from a higher state of being.
Land, Land....
I have landed in desolate places.
Land in places so dry
I arrived in regions with little emotional fulfillment.
Long, and I long
I intensely yearn for something.
Send!
Please help me.
Floatboat, bring my lover back!
I request a ship to reunite me with my beloved.
Try, and I try.
I repeatedly attempt.
Send boat of love..
Please send a vessel of affection.
Send, Float Leiber Boten
I implore you to send a love boat.
Contributed by Muhammad S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.