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".
Pink Orange Red
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretend your anger
And draws his horses
Being chosen also
Please get up
Fall, please get up
Fall, please get up
So see and hear
Sultitan itan
So see and hear
Plain tiger iger
In my heart
Set you right up
In my heart
I sing this song
Back you up
How messed I am
Back you up
I consider
So he got up
I must see him
I must see him
And all got up
Sore got he
Apalled got up
Apalled got up
I'm in this song
So see and hear
Sultitan itan
So see and hear
Plain tiger iger
[Background:]
And my defeat and hope [x3]
And sad and hope [x3]
Might not feel down
Don't listen, now [only 1st 3 times]
The Cocteau Twins' song "Pink Orange Red" is mysterious and dreamlike in its lyrics, which makes interpreting their meaning a challenge. The song's opening lines, "He draws his horses, pretend your anger, and draws his horses, being chosen also," may be a metaphor for a person who is skilled at controlling their emotions and keeping their anger hidden, like a horse that can be trained to move in a specific direction. The line "Being chosen also" may allude to the idea that this person's calm demeanor is a quality sought after and admired by others.
The subsequent lines, "Please get up, Fall, please get up, Fall, please get up, Don't ruin yourself," seem to be an encouragement to the person mentioned before, urging them to get up and not let negative thoughts or emotions control them. The lines "So see and hear, Sultitan itan, So see and hear, Plain tiger iger," are unclear in meaning, but the odd and mellifluous words used create an otherworldly atmosphere in the song.
The rest of the lyrics touch upon themes of love and support, with the singer telling the person they care for that they'll "set you right up" and "back you up" no matter what happens. The lines "I must see him" and "Sore got he, Apalled got up, Apalled got up, I'm in this song" are ambiguous and difficult to interpret, but they seem to convey a mix of emotions related to both passion and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
He draws his horses
He sketches his vibrant imagination of horses
Pretend your anger
Suppress your rage and put up a facade of calmness
And draws his horses
Continues to capture his artistic portrayal of horses
Being chosen also
Selected to undertake something significant
Please get up
Rise from your affliction
Fall, please get up
Don't succumb to failure, instead get up and try again
Fall, please get up
Persist against adversity and overcome it
Don't ruin yourself
Don't destroy your soul by giving in to defeatism or negativity
So see and hear
Observe and listen carefully
Sultitan itan
Words with no direct meaning, perhaps to signify something mysterious
So see and hear
Watch and listen with full attention
Plain tiger iger
A species of butterfly, again used in a mysterious way
In my heart
Embedded deep within me
Set you right up
Corrects and rectifies things for you
In my heart
Deeply felt within me
I sing this song
Expressing myself through this musical piece
Back you up
Support and reinforce you
How messed I am
Expressing one's state of confusion and disorder
Back you up
Stand by your side
I consider
I ponder and think deeply
So he got up
He rose above his problems
I must see him
I need to meet him
I must see him
It is crucial for me to encounter him
And all got up
Everyone stands together and rises from the ashes
Sore got he
He got injured
Appalled got up
Rose up in shock and amazement
Appalled got up
Reacts with alarm and concern
I'm in this song
I'm part of this musical composition
So see and hear
Notice and listen
Sultitan itan
Words with no direct meaning, perhaps to signify something mysterious
So see and hear
Observe and listen carefully
Plain tiger iger
A species of butterfly, again used in a mysterious way
And my defeat and hope [x3]
My loss and optimism struggle in my mind
And sad and hope [x3]
My sorrow and aspirations are in conflict
Might not feel down
I may avoid being discouraged
Don't listen, now [only 1st 3 times]
Ignore the negative influences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind