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".
Golden-Vein
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of song
Will you spare
Last night, till dawn
Your eyes have mine
At last I've got lyric
The rest into(in two?)
A mood of dust
With eyes for me
My safe love
Bought
Showing emotions
New rules
Reaching out
Reeling with it
Our mountain roses
Oh in their eyes and then
Little flowers in the dirt
And gladness will fill me in your hand
You hold and surround me in gold
Myself into
It finds a thread
The lyrics in "Golden-Vein" by Cocteau Twins may be a bit difficult to fully understand, but they paint a vivid image of overwhelming emotions and an all-consuming love. The opening lines suggest a rejection of harshness or negativity ("shunning punched all of song"), possibly in favor of something more positive and soulful. The singer then implores their lover to "spare" them until morning, suggesting either a desire to remain in each other's company or perhaps a plea for forgiveness.
The lyrics that follow are more impressionistic, with phrases like "a mood of dust" and "myself into" seeming to describe a sort of introspection or personal transformation. However, the theme of love and connection remains omnipresent, with lines like "with eyes for me, my safe love bought," and "reaching out, reeling with it" suggesting a deep and intense bond.
The second half of the song continues in this vein, with more evocative descriptions of the lovers' emotions ("our mountain roses" and "little flowers in the dirt"), and a sense of gratitude and joy in being held and surrounded by gold. Ultimately, the song concludes with the reassuring statement that "it finds a thread," which suggests a measure of continuity or persistence through time.
Line by Line Meaning
Shunning punched
Ignoring the obvious and expected
All of song
Complete and whole in its entirety
Will you spare
Can you let go or forgive
Last night, till dawn
From sunset to sunrise
Your eyes have mine
Your gaze captivates me
At last I've got lyric
Finally finding the right words
The rest into(in two?)
The other parts were divided or separated
A mood of dust
A feeling of emptiness or desolation
Myself into
Losing oneself in something
With eyes for me
Focused solely on me
My safe love
A love that provides security and comfort
Bought
Acquired at a cost
Showing emotions
Expressing feelings openly and honestly
New rules
Changes to the way things were done before
Reaching out
Extending oneself to connect with others
Reeling with it
Feeling overwhelmed or dizzyingly joyful
Our mountain roses
Our strong and enduring love
Oh in their eyes and then
The way others perceive us
Little flowers in the dirt
The beauty found in unexpected places
And gladness will fill me in your hand
Finding happiness and contentment in the touch of someone you love
You hold and surround me in gold
Feeling like you are cherished and treasured
It finds a thread
Discovering a connection or continuity between things
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN GUTHRIE, SIMON RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jcasper2011
I've never, in my 62 years on this planet, heard music that has affected me like the Cocteau Twins have. Love you,Twins!
@alanburrows7656
im the same age spook....love them
@marcelooliveira6853
Spook Spook I am 46 and completely relate to what you say.
@douglasgray6783
I'm 61 and ditto.
@jingyuli6710
I'm 27 and I almost cry every time I listen
@marcelooliveira6853
I so much relate to what u say…
@enigmag9538
God has blessed us with the voice of an angel.
@jeffn.2659
I don't think I can imagine anyone who LOOKS so beautiful singing...its like every fiber of her being is being projected into her breath and vocal cords. Her concentration and passion are worn so openly...
@Sha2908
The best group ever.
@rebecaguimaraes5193
Most beautiful woman i ever saw in my life