The Cocteau Twins were signed to Ivo Watts Russel's record label 4AD and Fraser found herself contributing to Russel's 'supergroup' This Mortal Coil which showcased the talents of his stable. Her most notable performance was probably on Song to the Siren; a beautifully haunting cover of the Tim Buckley song which enjoyed a considerable covert success in the late '80s.
Fraser has also recorded with Ian McCulloch (of Echo and the Bunnymen) and Massive Attack as well as featuring on the soundtrack to The Lord of Rings movie trilogy.
Sea Swallow Me
Elizabeth Fraser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you met me
And cannot cry
But you won't turn around
To see me fly
All you know
Is when I'm with you
I make you see
Fish in the sea
I'm saying
Swallow me
Everything is alright
Ill be the one
Who keeps you up at night
And if you leave
I can guarantee
You will find 10 million
Guys like me
I'm not worried
It's his ring you wear
As long as noone knows
Then he can't even care
You're feeling guilty
I'm well aware
You look so ashamed
And baby, I'm so scared
I'm saying
Swallow me
Everything is alright
Ill be the one
Who keeps you up at night
And if you leave
I can guarantee
You will find 10 million
Guys like me
I'll pay you money
If you go see this guy
He's better off
Cos he won't ask why
I'm the real reason
That you went astray
Well be alright
If you don't
Want me to stay
I'm saying
Swallow me
Everything is alright
Ill be the one
Who keeps you up at night
And if you leave
I can guarantee
You will find 10 million
Guys like me
I don't know
Why you met me
And cannot cry
But you won't turn around
To see me fly
All you know
Is when I'm with you
I make you see
I'm nothing but another
Fish in the sea
I'm saying
Swallow me
Everything is alright
Ill be the one
Who keeps you up at night
And if you leave
I can guarantee
You will find 10 million
Guys like me
The song “Sea Swallow Me” by Elizabeth Fraser features poetic and insightful lyrics that convey the emotions of the singer. The singer expresses feelings of worthlessness and insignificance, as they are compared to “another fish in the sea,” which is a metaphor for being unimportant and easily replaceable. The singer also seems to be in love with someone who is in a committed relationship and cannot cry or openly express their emotions, leading the singer to feel scared and uncertain. However, there is also an element of self-sacrifice, as the singer offers to leave the person they love by paying them money to see someone who is “better off.”
The song’s theme revolves around the idea of not being valued or recognized, and the sense of desperation that arises from feeling insignificant. This message could be interpreted in many different ways, such as feeling alone in a crowded world or feeling unappreciated in a relationship. The song also explores the complexities of love and the pain of unrequited feelings, and the fear of losing someone who is already committed to someone else. The repetition of “swallow me” highlights the singer’s desperation for the other person to acknowledge their love, but also suggests that the singer feels trapped and suffocated by their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know
I am uncertain
Why you met me
About how we got together
And cannot cry
I cannot express any emotions
But you won't turn around
You refuse to look back
To see me fly
To see my success
All you know
Your knowledge is limited to the following
Is when I'm with you
Only when I'm with you
I make you see
I am able to make you perceive
I'm nothing but another
I am just like any other
Fish in the sea
Nothing special
I'm saying
What I mean is
Swallow me
Accept and consume me
Everything is alright
Everything is okay
Ill be the one
I will be the person
Who keeps you up at night
Who occupies your mind at night
And if you leave
If you go away
I can guarantee
I can promise
You will find 10 million
There are many
Guys like me
Men similar to me
I'm not worried
I am not concerned
It's his ring you wear
The ring you have belongs to someone else
As long as noone knows
If nobody knows
Then he can't even care
He won't even notice
You're feeling guilty
You feel remorseful
I'm well aware
I know it for a fact
You look so ashamed
You appear embarrassed
And baby, I'm so scared
And I feel frightened
I'll pay you money
I will offer you money
If you go see this guy
If you visit this person
He's better off
It's better for him
Cos he won't ask why
Because he won't inquire why
I'm the real reason
I am the true cause
That you went astray
That you deviated
Well be alright
Everything will be fine
If you don't
Unless you
Want me to stay
Choose for me to remain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, HAROLD BUDD, ROBIN A. GUTHRIE, SIMON PHILIP RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind