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".
Quisquose
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where what why how how how how
[In background:] what polite
[Chorus:]
Jesus Jenny Gemini
Has all of it criss-crossed
High electron power failing
Hit by degree
[Chorus]
[In background:] what polite
[Chorus]
[In background:] cheerfully
[Chorus]
Quise qualledo qualledo quallido quallido do do do do au
a Rococo au oahoo
[In background:] hurt polite
[Chorus]
[In background:] cheerfully
[Chorus]
Jesus, seasonal, his name, comical
[In background:] what polite
[Chorus]
[In background:] cheerfully
[Chorus]
[In background:] what polite
[Chorus]
[In background:] cheerfully
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins's song Quisquose are highly fragmented and open to interpretation. They include a mix of nonsense words and fragmented phrases, making it difficult to discern an overarching narrative or meaning. Despite the lack of a clear storyline, the emotive quality of the lyrics paints a picture of a surreal, dreamlike landscape.
The repeated phrase "what polite" suggests a polite, almost mechanical world which the singer is struggling against. The chorus, which references Jesus, Jenny, Gemini, and high electron power, feels like a series of disconnected images or concepts. The lines "Jesus, seasonal, his name, comical" stand out as an intriguing combination of words that could be interpreted in a variety of ways, from a play on words to a deliberate attempt to disorient the listener.
The lyrics to Quisquose are ultimately a series of impressions and feelings that reflect the overall tone of the song. The lyrics are only one part of a sonic landscape that includes ethereal vocals, dense guitar chords, and atmospherics that evoke a sense of unease and yearning. Overall, the lyrics seem to suggest a struggle against conformity, a desire to break free from the constraints of polite society and explore a more surreal, spiritual world.
Line by Line Meaning
You da dao ao surround
The environment around me is overwhelming and confusing.
Where what why how how how how
I am questioning everything around me, trying to understand it all.
[In background:] what polite
There is an underlying sense of politeness or pleasantries in the background.
[Chorus:] Jesus Jenny Gemini
The chorus contains a reference to multiple names, possibly representing different personalities or emotions.
Has all of it criss-crossed
All these different aspects are interconnected and mixed together.
High electron power failing
The power or energy around me is depleting or diminishing.
Hit by degree
I am affected or impacted by something to a certain extent.
[In background:] cheerfully
Despite the confusion and depletion, there is still a sense of cheerfulness or positivity lingering in the background.
Quise qualledo qualledo quallido quallido do do do do au
This nonsensical line could potentially represent a loss of coherence or meaning in one's surroundings.
a Rococo au oahoo
Another nonsensical line that could represent a chaotic or overwhelming environment.
[In background:] hurt polite
The politeness or pleasantries in the background are also tinged with a sense of hurt or pain.
Jesus, seasonal, his name, comical
The chorus once again references multiple names, possibly representing different emotions, with a sense of comical or ironic undertones.
[In background:] what polite
The politeness or pleasantries in the background continue to persist.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats its previous themes and references, emphasizing their importance.
[In background:] cheerfully
The background cheerfulness and positivity remain despite everything else.
[In background:] what polite
Once again, there is politeness or pleasantries in the background.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats once more, highlighting the interconnectedness and complexity of everything.
[In background:] cheerfully
The background cheerfulness and positivity remain.
[In background:] what polite
An ongoing theme of politeness and pleasantries in the background.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the cyclical nature of it all.
[In background:] cheerfully
The continuing cheerfulness and positivity in the background.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind