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".
Sultitan Itan
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perrittia laklerie koryao-ao
Macrothylacia phriofosica salaciella
Nepticulla-ulla-lla stipella amicolla
Sultiapollanella-nella cossus cossus
Abillatoeya stroemella
Sumho brokeella vetenofo vatopecella
Ollodocyerisa piphovstilolla pisella
Lanconia ollanialla tikie-tikie
Nallepacella lampronia
Coenonympha specilla meta bella
Eurybia-beba phionella
Ebapheronia nella viefiolla befasonabra
Tiekeria-epepia tella phylonistesotna
Dioryctria phispikera hyllolycaena bella
Phyllonorycter tella hyllo phytlla-phytlla
Pachytelia tigilla stasueshella pachliopta
Kanollecosahelue hammoniella
The lyrics of Cocteau Twins’s song Sultitan Itan are a series of seemingly nonsensical string of words, that upon closer examination, reveal a deeper meaning. The words are actually names of different species of moths and butterflies, organized in a rhythmic delivery that creates an otherworldly and poetic effect. While the names of these insects are rooted in science and reality, they also hold a certain mysticism and magic that transcend their biological classification.
The abstract nature of the lyrics also portrays the band’s signature dreamlike and ethereal style. Singer Elizabeth Fraser’s unique and incomprehensible vocal delivery further adds to the song’s mystical allure, leaving interpretation up to the listener’s individual experience. The lyrics ultimately evoke a feeling of wonder, enchantment, and natural beauty that underscores the Cocteau Twins' music.
Line by Line Meaning
Coenonympha specilla meta bella-bella
A beautiful species of butterfly known as Coenonympha specilla
Perrittia laklrie koryao-ao
The scientific names of two different species of moths that are being mentioned in the song
Macrothylacia phriofosica salaciella
Another species of moth with a long scientific name
Nepticulla-ulla-lla stipella amicolla
A moth species with a unique name pattern
Sultiapollanella-nella cossus cossus
A kind of moth called Sultiapollanella-nella along with cossus cossus
Abillatoeya stroemella
The scientific name of another moth species
Okernalla mulla lania hyalophora bragilla
A group of moth species mentioned in the song
Sumho brokeella vetenofo vatopecella
More names of moth species being mentioned
Ollodocyerisa piphovstilolla pisella
Another group of moth species mentioned in the song
Lanconia ollanialla tikie-tikie
Two more species of moth
Nallepacella lampronia
One more species of moth
Coenonympha specilla meta bella
Repeating the first line of the song, perhaps indicating the importance of this particular butterfly species
Eurybia-beba phionella
Another kind of moth with a unique name
Ebapheronia nella viefiolla befasonabra
Another moth species with a unique name
Tiekeria-epepia tella phylonistesotna
Yet another species of moth
Dioryctria phispikera hyllolycaena bella
A moth with a long scientific name
Phyllonorycter tella hyllo phytlla-phytlla
Another species of moth mentioned in the song
Pachytelia tigilla stasueshella pachliopta
More species of moth being mentioned in this line
Kanollecosahelue hammoniella
The last moth species mentioned in the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind