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".
Know Who You Are at Every Age
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A distinct desire to
Observe such,
Heal such
Behave such that makes this hard for me
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
A distinct desire to
Observe such,
Heal such
Behave such that makes this hard for me
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
Cry, cry, cry 'til you know why, I lost myself, identify
Cry, cry, cry 'til you know why, I lost myself, identify
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
Cocteau Twins’ song Know Who You Are at Every Age is a poignant exploration of the challenges of self-realization and growth. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with a desire to heal and grow, but is finding it difficult to do so due to her denial of certain truths about herself. The repetition of the phrase “I’m not real and I deny” suggests a deep sense of discontent or dishonesty within the singer.
The line “I won’t heal unless I cry” is particularly powerful, suggesting that the singer needs to confront her emotions and allow herself to feel the pain of her experiences in order to move forward. The repeated refrain “cry, cry, cry ‘til you know why, I lost myself, identify” further emphasizes the importance of emotional release and self-discovery.
The final lines of the song (“I can’t grieve, so I won’t grow, I won’t heal ‘til I let it go”) serve as a reminder that healing and growth require a letting go of the past and a willingness to confront the pain of one’s experiences. Ultimately, the song encourages listeners to embrace the discomfort of personal growth and strive towards self-awareness and emotional healing.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems things are indicative to,
It appears that certain events and circumstances are pointing towards
A distinct desire to
A clear longing to
Observe such,
Take notice of such situations
Heal such
Mend and recover from such experiences
Behave such that makes this hard for me
Acting in a way that makes this challenging for me
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
Denying my true self and refusing to recover from emotional pain unless I express and release it through tears
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
I am unable to properly mourn my losses, and therefore cannot move forward and recover until I release my emotional attachment to them
Cry, cry, cry 'til you know why, I lost myself, identify
Weeping repeatedly until I understand the reasons behind my feelings of losing my identity
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
Refusing to acknowledge my true self and emotions, unless I express them openly through tears
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
Unable to properly mourn my losses, and therefore cannot mature or recover until I release myself from the emotional attachment to them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shetookeverythinginthedivorce
My senses are addicted to, A discreet desire to
Observe such, Feel such
Behave such that makes this hard for me
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
My senses are addicted to, A discreet desire to
Observe such, Feel such
Behave such that makes this hard for me
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
Cry, cry, cry 'til you know why, I lost myself, identify
Cry, cry, cry 'til you know why, I lost myself, identify
I'm not real and I deny, I won't heal unless I cry
I can't grieve, so I won't grow, I won't heal 'til I let it go
@DaFuqBoom
Four-Calendar Cafe is just masterpiece, even dethrones Heaven or Las Vegas imo.
@kalevala29
I would say that Heaven or Las Vegas Is their most accessible album. I have a feeling it's probably sold the most. And it deserves a spot in popular musical history, even though some fans might think it's too commercial.
@lashtal
dude, you are the reason my kid wanted to dress as Speaker Man last Halloween. Glad to know you like good music :) Did you ever get into DEADSY?
@WowJustWow37
Yeeeesssss!!! Finally someone gets it! So many people hate on this album, but it’s indeed a masterpiece!
@GranulatedStuff
The last three albums , and Blue Bell Knoll for the most part, form a singular lump of gorgeousness in my head.
@DannyDiess
just got it on vinyl for the first time. wow i forgot how brilliant it is. loving it all over again.
@WowJustWow37
I was in 8th grade when this came out. Bluebeard was all over alternative radio, so I bought the whole album. I had never heard their old music, so I’d never heard anything like it. It changed my life. Absolutely fundamental to who I became as an adult. I’m a black woman. All my friends were listening to violent and sexual music. This album saved my life. ❤
@Suelabrie
One of my favorite groups of all time. Enchanting
@funeats8201
The powers that be love to use music as a tool to morally degrade the youth. Always pushing drugs, violence and promiscuity. If we didn’t have a for profit prison system, I bet there would magically be a lot less violence and drug pushing in the music.
And FYI the CIA did try to use music to influence the youth culture in Cuba. Iirc they threw them out.
@wa0187
Beautiful