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".
Hithérto
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
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Hidden to her own hidden account I must have let her dame holes
The lyrics of Cocteau Twins' song Hitherto are cryptic and abstract, like most of their work. The song seems to be about the difficulty of understanding someone else's thoughts and emotions. The first line, "Hidden to your heavy side," suggests that the person being addressed is complex and hard to unravel. The second line, "I couldn't tell your head is so deep," implies that the person is not easily read or understood.
The second line of the second stanza, "Hidden to her own hidden account," adds another layer to the meaning. It suggests that the person being addressed is not only hard to decipher, but also intentionally keeps parts of themselves hidden. The line, "I must have let her dame holes," is harder to interpret. It could refer to the singer opening up to the person, but feeling like they didn't reciprocate. Alternatively, it could mean that the singer let the person peer into their own "holes," or vulnerabilities, and felt like they were not understood in return.
In summary, the lyrics of Hitherto are enigmatic and difficult to parse, but seem to revolve around the theme of trying to understand another person's hidden depths and failing to connect with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hidden to your heavy side
Unknown to the part of you that bears the weight and burden of life's struggles
I couldn't tell your head is so deep
I couldn't comprehend the profound thoughts and emotions going on in your mind
Hidden to her own hidden account
Unknown to even herself, she keeps secrets and inner turmoil hidden away
I must have let her dame holes
I must have allowed her emotional wounds to go unaddressed, causing her to suffer in silence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind