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".
Sugar Hiccup
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hiccup
Sugar hiccup
Makes the earth toss and tumble, sugar hiccup
Heavens curtsy and bow, sugar hiccup
Makes it pink, soft and smooth, sugar hiccup
Sugar hiccup while she reels, sugar hiccup
Sugar hiccup while she reels, sugar hiccup
Makes the earth toss and tumble, sugar hiccup
Sugar hiccup while she reels, sugar hiccup
Sugar hiccup, sugar hiccup, sugar hiccup
Heavens curtsy and bow, sugar hiccup
Makes it pink, soft and smooth, sugar hiccup
Heavens curtsy and bow
Makes it pink, soft and smooth now
Sugar hiccup or she reels
Sugar hiccup, hiccup now
Sugar hiccup, hiccup
Makes the earth toss and tumble
The lyrics to Cocteau Twins' song "Sugar Hiccup" are poetic and abstract, leaving room for interpretation. The repeated phrase "sugar hiccup" seems to evoke a sense of euphoria or dizziness, as if the singer is lost in a dizzying daydream. The lyrics suggest that this dreamlike state has the power to transform the world around them, making the earth "toss and tumble" and causing the heavens to "curtsy and bow." The lyric "makes it pink, soft and smooth" adds to this fantastical imagery, conjuring up a vision of a cotton candy sky.
However, amidst this dreamlike state, there is a sense of instability and disorientation. The line "sugar hiccup while she reels" suggests that the singer is stumbling or swaying, perhaps in a trance-like state. This creates a feeling of both whimsy and unease, as if the singer is lost in a strange, unfamiliar world.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sugar Hiccup" are a masterful example of Cocteau Twins' ability to create vivid, imaginative imagery through their music. The song's dreamy quality and otherworldly lyrics make it a standout track on the band's debut album, and a perfect representation of their unique sound.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar hiccup
The feeling of a sudden and momentary rush of sugar coarsing through one's veins and contorting one's body.
Hiccup
The reflex action of the diaphragm caused by a sudden contraction of muscles while the rush of sugar takes over.
Makes the earth toss and tumble, sugar hiccup
The uncontrollable feeling of euphoria and lightheadedness that comes with the sugar rush that makes the ground feel like it's moving beneath one's feet.
Heavens curtsy and bow, sugar hiccup
A feeling of otherworldly importance and grandeur that comes with the sugar rush that makes the sky and heavens seem to acknowledge and pay tribute to one's state of being.
Makes it pink, soft and smooth, sugar hiccup
The sugar rush creates a sense of tactile and visual sensitivity, the world suddenly becoming softer, smoother and richer in color.
Sugar hiccup while she reels, sugar hiccup
The effect the sugar rush has on the individual, causing them to dance and spin with abandon.
Sugar hiccup, hiccup, sugar hiccup
The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the sugar rush, reflected in the repeated use of the word 'hiccup'.
Heavens curtsy and bow, sugar hiccup
The feeling of transcendent state achieved by the sugar rush, as though the heavens themselves are paying reverential homage.
Makes it pink, soft and smooth, sugar hiccup
The sugar rush engenders a sense of transformation in the world, making it more colorful, textured, and aesthetically pleasing.
Heavens curtsy and bow
The celestial world pays tribute to the individual,
Makes it pink, soft and smooth now
The effect of the sugar rush transforms the present environment into something more powerful, lighter in texture, and more color-rich.
Sugar hiccup or she reels
Indicates that the sugar rampage takes hold of the woman, compelling her to dance or at the very least experience physical sensations.
Sugar hiccup, hiccup now
The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the sugar rush, reflected in the repeated use of the word 'hiccup'.
Sugar hiccup, hiccup
Reflects the hypnotic and cyclic nature of the sugar rush the woman is experiencing.
Makes the earth toss and tumble
The uncontrollable experience of being swayed and moved around by an overwhelming sugar shock.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind