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".
Pandora
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
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Our room, a hot and big and kick and burn our group
Attack our tacky home
(I'm in the lights with him)
I feel I'm cheating when I sing shudder
And can I and mourn and tis an arm for us
(I'm at home in the lance)
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
(Falling over hers)
Feed me you've pretended if I were you
To fall for her for little Ferdinand fast kettle
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
For good for better Fred is dead will flee ill feef
Aloof from waft a coffee effort
(I'm at home in lance)
Falled on yanks
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
[Repeat: x2]
Forty feet
Forty Franks
Fish fate
Fiss fate
Clean fish
Formidable
Formidable
Formidable
Formidable
Formidable
Formidable
And it in no one
(And) I've looked
And it in no one
Free emparted
The lyrics of Cocteau Twins' song Pandora are notoriously difficult to decipher and have been the subject of much speculation among fans. The language used in the lyrics is poetic and cryptic, which makes it difficult to determine their precise meaning. However, many interpretations suggest that the song is about the pain of unrequited love and the isolation and loneliness that can come with it. The singer seems to be questioning the authenticity of their feelings and whether they are reciprocated by the object of their affection.
The opening line "I'm in love with hers" suggests that the singer is in love with someone who may not be aware of their feelings. The next line "our room, a hot and big and kick and burn our group" evokes a feeling of claustrophobia and tension in a shared space, possibly referring to a relationship or a living situation that is difficult to navigate. The line "attack our tacky home" may suggest a desire to escape from this situation.
The next lines are a jumble of words that seem to evoke strong emotions such as "shudder", "mourn" and "arm". It's unclear what these words mean or how they are connected to each other, but they seem to express a sense of sadness and longing. The line "feed me you've pretended if I were you to fall for her for little Ferdinand fast kettle" is particularly difficult to interpret, but it may suggest a feeling of being used or manipulated by someone the singer is in love with. The repeated lines "forty feet, forty franks, fish fate, fiss fate, clean fish, formidable" could be interpreted as a kind of incantation or a reflection of the singer's scattered thoughts and emotions.
Overall, the lyrics of Pandora are enigmatic and open to multiple interpretations. The song's dreamlike quality and hazy imagery create a mood of intense emotion that is difficult to pin down.
Line by Line Meaning
(I'm in love with hers)
I am deeply in love with someone
Our room, a hot and big and kick and burn our group
Our room is hot and large, and energizes our group
Attack our tacky home
We are making our home better and more attractive
(I'm in the lights with him)
I am currently with someone under bright lights
I feel I'm cheating when I sing shudder
I feel guilty when I sing a shaky note
And can I and mourn and tis an arm for us
I can cry and grieve together with someone who supports me
(I'm at home in the lance)
I feel comfortable and at home in a particular situation
I feel I've been
I have the sensation that I have changed
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
Ferdinand was frequently unhappy in her home
(Falling over hers)
I have fallen completely for someone
Feed me you've pretended if I were you
You have falsely pretended to care for me as if you were someone else
To fall for her for little Ferdinand fast kettle
It is easy for someone to quickly fall for her, like little Ferdinand
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
Ferdinand was frequently unhappy in her home
For good for better Fred is dead will flee ill feef
Fred will leave and hide away permanently, regardless of his physical state
Aloof from waft a coffee effort
Disinterested in the smell of coffee, which requires effort
(I'm at home in lance)
I feel comfortable and at home in a particular situation
Falled on yanks
Fell to the Americans (in time of war)
(Ferdinand and was sad a lot in her house)
Ferdinand was frequently unhappy in her home
Forty feet
A distance of forty feet
Forty Franks
A collection of forty pieces of currency in France
Fish fate
The destiny of a fish
Fiss fate
Filled with fate
Clean fish
Removing dirt from a fish
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
Formidable
Impressive and inspiring awe
And it in no one
It belongs to no one
(And) I've looked
I have searched for something
And it in no one
It belongs to no one
Free emparted
Liberated and departed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind