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".
Hearsay Please
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For I swore
By and by
Of your
Justice please
For I swore
Of your
Justice please
Hearsay please
At least tonight it should be so
For I swore
By and by
Of your
Justice please
For I swore
By and by
Of your
Justice please
I swear
I swore
By and by
By and by
(x2)
Hearsay please
At least tonight it should be so
For I swore
By and by
Of your
Justice please
(x2)
Boiled pain
Rip their castles
I swear
I swore
Boiled pain
Rip out cradles
I swear
I swore
Boiled pain
We can't stay his
I swear
I swore
By and by
By and by
(x3)
Cocteau Twins' song Hearsay Please is a hauntingly beautiful track that features the ethereal voice of Elizabeth Fraser accompanied by the shimmering guitar sound of Robin Guthrie. The lyrics are enigmatic, as with many of the band's songs, but they reveal a sense of pleading and urgency. The repeated phrase "For I swore by and by of your justice please" lends the song a sense of ritual, as if the singer is making a desperate appeal for help.
The opening line "At least tonight it should be so" suggests that the singer is uncertain of what will happen in the future and is hoping for a positive outcome, if just for one night. The phrase "hearsay please" is repeated throughout the song, sounding almost like a prayer, but it's hard to determine its significance. The lines "Boiled pain/ Rip their castles/ Rip out cradles/ We can't stay his" add to the sense of urgency, as if something terrible has happened and the singer is calling for retribution.
Overall, the song's lyrics are open to interpretation but convey a sense of desperation and a plea for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
At least tonight it should be so
Maybe just for tonight, things will be okay
For I swore
I made a promise
By and by
Eventually
Of your
Regarding
Justice please
I'm pleading for fairness
Hearsay please
I'm asking for rumors or gossip
I swear
I'm making a serious vow
Boiled pain
Intense suffering
Rip their castles
Destroy their illusions of power
Rip out cradles
Destroy the source of innocence and vulnerability
We can't stay his
We can't continue to endure this pain
By and by
Eventually
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, WILLIAM HEGGIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Spin'glass Hydra
Hearsay Please, was taken from a live tour for the Garlands album, which hit number one on the UK charts in 1982. The 4AD Label under Ivo Watts-Russell supervision, was stunned and so was everybody else, but if your wondering why this recording isn't 100%, it's for those reasons. I have the original release from England, where "Hearsay Please" wasn't on that particular album, but I have the promo. There are some bootleg recordings from their Newcastle, England at City Hall floating around, but this is the clearest version I've heard, but one where Robin Guthrie's "Intro" isn't more accentuated.
I dare say, every note should be included, just because it's important to the Cocteau Twins discography historically. Even if, some will only argue over it, "There just strums" so judge for yourself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRgHpzjLI0o
even if, Robin's playing around, it's still hair-razzing; but remember, they were still babies when this was performed.
"It Began,
We're Fast Friends and Fearless
Money, And,
Watching, Get's too Hard
[She] Writes a Song
They, Think I'm a Genius
Somebody's,
She Turns Thirteen, No..... !!!
Tragedy, End,
I'm, I Pretty Enough..... "
* (There's a cookie for the first person, who knows these lyrics.)
Elizabeth's unforgettable "quiver".... !!!
Incredibly Masterful....
Alex Mackain-Bremner
This is actually my favourite Cocteau Twins track - Robin's guitar at the end is absolutely insane
Kureme now
Not even they themselves would achieve such a sound again.
vixstar46
One of my favourite cocteau twins tracks of all time and it's so difficult to find!
Thanks for posting!!
Edgar Cx
Check it on from the bbc sessions live, it’s beautiful
AuditoryOdditor
Hearsay please, love this whole album, happened upon Cocteau Twins by latent memory. I heard them on NPR's echoes late one night in 1995 as a teenager. Didn't hear anything from them again, no mention until I went into a music store in 2000 (I think) and saw their album Milk &Kisses in the discount bin. Bought it and was sooo glad I did. One of my favorite bands of all time.
Spin'glass Hydra
You'll not find the Milk & Kisses album in any discount bin, now....!!!
Richard Conway
Incredible intro. Incredible track.
basic user
That's really crazy you mention that man ..
I was just thinking that just before I started reading
the comment section! Anyway, Even after 25 yrs of listening to them, I'm just as devoted a fan of their music as ever. Raw, beautiful, and original.. This was music for intelligent people.
George Tzimas
Arguably their magnus opus. I love the subdued, almost burried in the mix piano of the first half of the song. Then it magically reappears at about 3.25, in chords. What a flipping masterpiece!
Sebasiouxsie Rodriguez
A record that I ve always wanted to own but has always been too costly. To cap It all, Head Over Heels was in my car when It was stolen. I wonder if the thieves would ever enjoy Cocteau Twins' first records like i ve always have. They might have thown the CD away, which would not, by any means, demerit Liz and Robin's great talent and creativity. Neither thieves nor harsh economy will stop me from enjoying these priceless strokes of talent. THX for uploading!