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".
Suckling the Mender
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glad, oh
I love
(Oh, I love)
Prose says
Yes, he may
(Oh, yes, he may)
Fiddle
(Her future)
It dies
Union of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here for him
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here
I feel
Glad, oh
I love
(Oh, I love)
Prose says
Union of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here for him
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here full of love
Full of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here full of love
Full of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here
Union of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here for him
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent her full of love
Full of love
Union of perfect love
She ain't sent here
The lyrics of Cocteau Twins' Suckling the Mender may seem cryptic at first, but they convey an intense emotion that is almost palpable. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase, "I feel glad, oh I love," which is followed by "prose says yes, he may," suggesting that the singer is expressing his/her contentment with a situation that might not be entirely acceptable for society or morality. The next lines, "fiddle future, her future, it dies," could refer to the singer's acceptance of a life where the future may not be secure, but their love is alive in the present moment.
The chorus, "union of love, union of perfect love, she ain't sent here for him," suggests that the love between the two people mentioned in the song is pure, but it might not be accepted by someone else or society at large. The last lines, "full of love, union of perfect love, she ain't sent here," further emphasize the transcendental aspect of their love, which is not bound by physical or social constructs.
Overall, the song deals with the theme of accepting unconventional love and cherishing the moments of ecstasy that such love can bring, even if it may not last forever or might not be socially acceptable.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel
The singer expresses that they have an emotional response.
Glad, oh
The singer feels elated or joyful.
I love
The singer has strong feelings of affection.
(Oh, I love)
The artist emphasizes their strong feelings of love.
Prose says
The artist suggests that the written word can convey hidden truths.
Yes, he may
The singer acknowledges that someone else may possess a certain quality or attribute.
(Oh, yes, he may)
The singer emphasizes that someone else may possess a certain quality or attribute.
Fiddle
The artist suggests that something is being played around with or manipulated.
Future
The artist refers to what lies ahead.
(Her future)
The artist emphasizes that the future is specifically related to a female person.
It dies
The singer suggests that something is coming to an end.
Union of love
The artist refers to the concept of two people being emotionally joined together.
Union of perfect love
The singer refers to the ideal state of two people being completely and totally in love with one another.
She ain't sent here for him
The singer suggests that a female person is not present for the sake or benefit of a specific male person.
She ain't sent here
The singer suggests that a female person's purpose for being present is unclear or unknown.
Full of love
The artist suggests that someone is overflowing with strong feelings of affection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE, ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind