Candleland
Ian McCulloch Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Get your handful of remembrance
For you to sprinkle through your life
In between the penance
That you carry by your side
With the make belief and miracles
That only come alive

In Candleland
Candleland

Wear your guilt like skin
And keep your sins disguised
Take some salt and sugar
And rub it in your eyes
You'll know that something's left you
Just as you arrive

In Candleland
Candleland

I walked back inside me
I'd gone back from my youth
As I came down the fire escape
It must have stayed up on the roof
They say you just know
And the knowing is the proof

Of Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland




Candle
The candleland

Overall Meaning

The central message conveyed through Ian McCulloch’s song, Candleland, appears to be about personal reflection and self-discovery. The opening verse speaks to the need to hold onto positive memories, to keep them alive and use them to bring joy into our present lives. In contrast, the idea of penance represents the darker side of life, the shadowy experiences that we all carry around within us. McCulloch suggests that by balancing these opposing states, we can live a fulfilling life.


The second and third verses show the idea of confronting one’s guilt head-on, by being self-aware and acknowledging our wrongdoings. McCulloch suggests that by coming face-to-face with our sins, we can begin to overcome them. Furthermore, he proposes the idea of metaphorically rubbing salt and sugar in our eyes, or causing ourselves pain, to remind us that we are human and to reconnect with reality. The final verse suggests that as we grow older, we gain perspective on life, and, combined with the wisdom of youth, find our own path.


Overall, the message of Candleland refers to the search for personal growth, the journey of self-discovery and the need to embrace every aspect of the human experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Get your handful of remembrance
Take a handful of memories to carry with you through life


For you to sprinkle through your life
Use those memories to enrich your experiences


In between the penance
In between the times you seek forgiveness


That you carry by your side
That you hold close to you


With the make belief and miracles
With the things that aren't real and the things that can't be explained


That only come alive
That only become real to you


Wear your guilt like skin
Keep your guilt close and ever present


And keep your sins disguised
Try to hide your wrongdoings from others


Take some salt and sugar
Experience the bittersweet moments in life


And rub it in your eyes
Become fully aware of those moments


You'll know that something's left you
You'll feel like something is missing from you


Just as you arrive
Right when you come to a realization


I walked back inside me
I became introspective


I'd gone back from my youth
I revisited my past


As I came down the fire escape
As I tried to escape my problems


It must have stayed up on the roof
My problems were still there, waiting for me


They say you just know
Some things can't be explained, you just feel them


And the knowing is the proof
Knowing something is enough to confirm it for yourself


Of Candleland
Of the place where people go to confront their problems and emotions


Candleland
The place where people go to find clarity and understanding


Candleland
The place where people confront their demons, hopes and fears


Candleland
The place where people find themselves


Candleland
The place that burns bright with the light of understanding


Candleland
The place that illuminates the truth


Candle
The symbol of hope, light, and understanding




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ian McCulloch, Michael Jobson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Obscured Universe

Get your handleful of rememberance
For you to sprinkle through your life
In between the penance
That you carry by your side
With the make belief and the miracles
That only come alive

In candleland
Candleland

Wear your guilt like skin
And keep your sins disguised
Take some salt and sugar
And rub it in your eyes
You'll know that something's left you
Just as you arrive


In candleland
Candleland

I walked back inside me
I'd gone back from my youth
As I came down the fire escape
It must have stayed up on the roof
They say you just know
And the knowing is the proof

Of candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candle
The candleland



コイワカメラ

Get your handleful of rememberance
For you to sprinkle through your life
In between the penance
That you carry by your side
With the make belief and the miracles
That only come alive

In candleland
Candleland

Wear your guilt like skin
And keep your sins disguised
Take some salt and sugar
And rub it in your eyes
You'll know that something's left you
Just as you arrive

In candleland
Candleland

I walked back inside me
I'd gone back from my youth
As I came down the fire escape
It must have stayed up on the roof
They say you just know
And the knowing is the proof

Of candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candle
The candleland



All comments from YouTube:

t3mponauta

Cocteau Twins (Elizabeth Fraser) - Pandora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDpVeykvBGQ&t=0s

José Carlos

Essa música é linda demais e não me canso de ouvi-la. Sou fã do Ian McCulloch, ele canta muito pena que anda sumido. Ouvindo em 2022, mas ouço desde o final dos anos 80. Show.

Dee McIntosh

💜Two of thee most beautiful voices of our time, together!

cocteautwinned

For those who don't know,Liz was the singer for the band Cocteau Twins. Check em out. She's phenomenal!

DAYGLOUKNOUKNO

SHE IS THE BOMB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alexandre Magno Simões

Esse cantor é um gênio, tô conhecendo o trabalho dele solo depois de muitos anos, mais não importa, uma boa música não envelhece!!

rmle23

Envelhece como um bom vinho.

Baby Irene

One of the greatest tunes. Ever.

Obscured Universe

Get your handleful of rememberance
For you to sprinkle through your life
In between the penance
That you carry by your side
With the make belief and the miracles
That only come alive

In candleland
Candleland

Wear your guilt like skin
And keep your sins disguised
Take some salt and sugar
And rub it in your eyes
You'll know that something's left you
Just as you arrive


In candleland
Candleland

I walked back inside me
I'd gone back from my youth
As I came down the fire escape
It must have stayed up on the roof
They say you just know
And the knowing is the proof

Of candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candleland
Candle
The candleland

Tom-ETHAN Elam

Great poetry is great poetry to talk about it 2 minutes

More Comments

More Versions