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".
Fifty Fifty Clown
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel rewarded on being so ugly, eh
Oh, and you're a lone shadow
I feel rewarded on being so ugly, eh
Smile and face your wife angry
His life don't despise what's in eyes
He skips so as the seasons
Again, ahead
We'll rust, our nose dust
A fine gard with pleased and, oh its true
Hill can't comfort the brain
He must come as he was
Again, ahead
And this is safe, flowing, love, soul and light
Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are
Good morning myth to somebody I call in light
Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are
And this is safe, flowing, love, soul and light
Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are
The lyrics of "Fifty-Fifty Clown" have a surrealistic quality to them, as if they are being pulled from a dream-like state. The repeated line "I feel rewarded on being so ugly, eh" suggests a possible theme of self-loathing or feeling like an outsider. The line "Smile and face your wife angry" seems to address a difficult relationship between two people. It is unclear whether the subject is speaking to someone specifically or if these are simply scattered thoughts.
The lines "Hill can't comfort the brain / He must come as he was" are particularly evocative, suggesting a futile search for peace or contentment. The final lines, "And this is safe, flowing, love, soul, and light / Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are," are both ambiguous and strangely comforting, as if the singer is grasping for something that is just beyond their reach.
Overall, the song appears to be an exploration of the complexities of human emotion and the difficulty of finding real connection in a confusing world.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel rewarded on being so ugly, eh
I find happiness in accepting my own imperfections and not conforming to societal beauty standards.
Oh, and you're a lone shadow
You are a mere reflection of your surroundings, without your own identity or purpose.
Smile and face your wife angry
Pretend to be happy despite feeling angry around your significant other.
His life don't despise what's in eyes
He does not hate what he sees in the present moment of his life.
He skips so as the seasons
He moves through life without fully experiencing it, like a light breeze that comes and goes with the changing seasons.
To come as a breeze has
To exist in the same fleeting and impermanent way as a breeze that passes through.
We'll rust, our nose dust
We will eventually decay and turn to dust, forgetting our former existence.
A fine gard with pleased and, oh its true
A beautiful and satisfying garden, as if it were a true reality.
Hill can't comfort the brain
Nature and physical surroundings cannot bring peace to one's troubled mind.
He must come as he was
One must embrace their true self and not try to become someone they are not.
And this is safe, flowing, love, soul and light
This state of being is peaceful, easy, full of love, spirituality, and brightness.
Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are
Physical movements do not necessarily reflect one's true emotions.
Good morning myth to somebody I call in light
A greeting to someone who exists only in their imagination or a person who they admire from afar and whom they view in a positive light.
Motions aren't in the shape that emotions are
Physical movements do not necessarily reflect one's true emotions.
And this is safe, flowing, love, soul and light
This state of being is peaceful, easy, full of love, spirituality, and brightness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind