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".
Theft and Wandering Around Lost
Cocteau Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heats up a balloon
And I give back his shame
And I take back my power
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
";Use me
Drain me
Fall around me";
Is this what my body said?
";Engulf me
I'm already dead";
I have a feel of things
Cry and shakes the wall for you
And I am moving to poison love
And drown the stars above you
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
";Use me
Drain me
Fall around me";
Is this what my body said?
";Engulf me
I'm already dead";
Keep cutting myself on the edges of reality
(x2)
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
";Use me Reality
Drain me
Fall around me";
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
";Engulf me Reality
I'm already dead";
The lyrics of "Theft and Wandering Around Lost" by Cocteau Twins speak to the concept of owning and controlling one's own body, as well as the pain and struggle that can come from being disconnected from that control. The opening lines depict the singer as feeling offended and violated by something - perhaps an encounter with someone who has tried to take advantage of them. However, the singer reclaims their power by heating up a balloon (which could be symbolic of using their breath to take control), giving back shame, and taking back their power. The repeated lines "My body is my own" emphasizes this sense of ownership and control.
The next section of the lyrics is a little more ambiguous, as the singer seems to describe a mixed feeling of wanting to be used and drained, but also being engulfed and feeling already dead. It's possible that this could represent conflicting desires or mixed messages that the singer has received from someone else in the past. The lines "I have a feel of things/Cry and shakes the wall for you" suggest that the singer is feeling deeply emotional, but struggling to communicate those feelings.
The chorus repeats the themes of ownership and protection, with the singer asserting that they deserve both. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of disconnection or disorientation from reality, with the singer feeling like they are cutting themselves on the edges of it.
Overall, "Theft and Wandering Around Lost" is a complex exploration of themes related to bodily autonomy, power, and emotional struggle. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but the repeated lines about ownership and protection suggest a strong message of empowerment that many listeners could relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
My body's all offended
My body feels violated and disrespected
Heats up a balloon
I am trying to calm down and ease my tension
And I give back his shame
I refuse to take on someone else's negative emotions and return it to them
And I take back my power
I reclaim control over my own body and emotions
My body is my own
I have sovereignty over my own body
My body is mine alone
My physical being belongs only to me
And I deserve protection
My safety and well-being are important and should be safeguarded
And I can create it for you
I am capable of protecting myself and others
Is this what my body said?
Am I interpreting my body's signals correctly?
";Use me
Drain me
Fall around me";
Am I allowing someone to take advantage of me?
Is this what my body said?
Am I interpreting my body's signals correctly?
";Engulf me
I'm already dead";
Am I allowing myself to be consumed by negative emotions?
I have a feel of things
I am aware of the situation and my surroundings
Cry and shakes the wall for you
I am expressing my emotions and it is affecting those around me
And I am moving to poison love
I am allowing my negative emotions to damage my relationships
And drown the stars above you
My negative energy is so strong that it affects everything and everyone around me
Keep cutting myself on the edges of reality (x2)
I am struggling to exist in the real world without succumbing to my negative emotions
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
Am I letting my negative emotions affect my mental and physical health?
";Use me Reality
Drain me
Fall around me";
Am I allowing myself to be used by others despite the harmful effects?
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
Am I letting my negative emotions affect my mental and physical health?
";Engulf me Reality
I'm already dead";
Am I allowing myself to be overwhelmed by negative emotions and struggling to cope?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alex4che
The man is an offender
He took my value
And I give back his shame
And I take back my power
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
I have a feel of things
Cry and shakes the wall for you
And I am moving to poison love
And drown the stars above you
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
Keep cutting myself on the edges of reality
(X2)
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Use me Reality
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Engulf me Reality
I'm already dead"
@broodofvipers
My body's all offended
Heats up a balloon
And I give back his shame
And I take back my power
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
I have a feel of things
Cry and shakes the wall for you
And I am moving to poison love
And drown the stars above you
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
Keep cutting myself on the edges of reality
(x2)
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Use me Reality
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Engulf me Reality
I'm already dead"
@mars1783
I listened to this CASSETTE TAPE in high school.... easier times... sorta!!! Hehe
@tortoise8378
Sigh
@Casinizucchini
I listened to this song a couple times and enjoyed it, then I listened to it on the bus and read the lyrics along with the song for the first time. I didn’t plan on crying so hard, this song is sadly relatable for me and it helps me cope and relax.
@roseblood2143
im glad this song helps you cope, and i'm sorry you find it relatable. i too am only after looking up the lyrics. heartbreaking. gives the song so much more depth.
@seanfoleyexperimentalmusic6671
@@roseblood2143 i dont bother reading the lyrics for cocteau twins i make my own up....happy or sad this tune is pure pure awesomeness
@lisbethbird8268
Elizabeth's singing taught my body what to say
@alex4che
The man is an offender
He took my value
And I give back his shame
And I take back my power
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
I have a feel of things
Cry and shakes the wall for you
And I am moving to poison love
And drown the stars above you
My body is my own
My body is mine alone
And I deserve protection
And I can create it for you
Is this what my body said?
"Use me
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said?
"Engulf me
I'm already dead"
Keep cutting myself on the edges of reality
(X2)
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Use me Reality
Drain me
Fall around me"
Is this what my body said? Keep cutting myself on the edges of
"Engulf me Reality
I'm already dead"
@brickadoebaebi2951
😥
@Chris.Treborn
THANKS FRANKLIN
@dazmalski
Some of these lyrics are wrong but good try