Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.
Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.
Princess Coldheart
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
chain between her lips. They waited proud; they waited willing...filed
in, failed, and so she killed them.
Sitting on her cutglass throne for forty years, without a phone, without
a single word. 100 thousand would-be suitors, dead because they couldn't
move her.
and rows of crosses.... Pretty flowers bloomed; they draped themselves
'round tombs and rows of crosses.
Some were daring...tried the tricks they'd learned in France. Some would
touch her hand. Money signs etched in their eyes. She sensed it;
one-by-one they died.
Others chanted poems...even showered her with strange expensive gifts.
She wouldn't read; she owned the best. She laid their flattery to
rest.
In the courtyard flowers bloomed; they draped themselves 'round tombs
and rows of crosses.... Pretty flowers bloomed; they draped themselves
'round tombs and rows of crosses.
Then, one October night, the humble village fool caught sight of
Coldheart, and he fell. He smashed a rock against her throne. He
snatched her hand and took her home.
Happily they lived forever after. He wears her chain upon his chest. She
even lets him kiss her breast.
In the courtyard flowers bloom; they drape themselves 'round tombs and
rows of crosses.... In their garden flowers bloom; they pick them,
decorate their room. It's touching.
It's touching, so touching. It's touching, so touching.
"Princess Coldheart" is a song by The Legendary Pink Dots that tells the story of a princess who sits on her cut-glass throne for forty years, without a phone or a single word, while waiting for the man who could move her. Throughout the song, we discover that many suitors had tried in vain to win her heart, but all of them failed and ended up dead. The princess is portrayed as cold and unapproachable, with an invisible chain around her that snaps when the right man kisses her.
The graveyard-like imagery continues throughout the song, with flowers blooming around tombs and rows of crosses. The princess is surrounded by death, with a trail of dead suitors at her feet. However, hope comes in the form of the village fool, who sees the princess and falls in love with her. He destroys her throne, takes her home, and they live happily ever after. The imagery shifts from death to life, with flowers blooming in their garden, and they even decorate their room with them.
Overall, the song tells a story of love conquering all, even in the face of death and despair. The princess goes from being coldhearted and unapproachable to finding love and happiness with the village fool.
Line by Line Meaning
Princess Coldheart closed her eyes and waited for the kiss to snap her chain between her lips. They waited proud; they waited willing...filed in, failed, and so she killed them.
Princess Coldheart was waiting for a kiss to break the chain around her lips, but those who attempted failed and paid with their lives.
Sitting on her cutglass throne for forty years, without a phone, without a single word. 100 thousand would-be suitors, dead because they couldn't move her.
Princess Coldheart sat on her throne for forty years and did not speak or leave. Many suitors tried to win her affections, but they all failed due to her coldness, and many died as a result.
In the courtyard flowers bloomed; they draped themselves 'round tombs and rows of crosses.... Pretty flowers bloomed; they draped themselves 'round tombs and rows of crosses.
The courtyard outside the castle was full of flowers, which grew around the graves and crosses, showing life amidst death.
Some were daring...tried the tricks they'd learned in France. Some would touch her hand. Money signs etched in their eyes. She sensed it; one-by-one they died.
Some suitors tried daring French tricks to win Princess Coldheart's attention. Others tried to bribe her with money, but she could sense their true intentions and killed them one by one.
Others chanted poems...even showered her with strange expensive gifts. She wouldn't read; she owned the best. She laid their flattery to rest.
Some suitors wrote her poems or gave her expensive gifts, but she did not bother to read or appreciate them. She only owned the best things and refused to be flattered.
Then, one October night, the humble village fool caught sight of Coldheart, and he fell. He smashed a rock against her throne. He snatched her hand and took her home.
One night, a humble fool from the village caught a glimpse of Princess Coldheart and fell in love with her. He did not fear her, smashed her throne with a rock, and took her hand, and took her away from the castle.
Happily they lived forever after. He wears her chain upon his chest. She even lets him kiss her breast.
The fool and Princess Coldheart lived happily ever after. The fool wears her chain as a symbol of their love, and she even allows him to kiss her breast, showing her love for him.
In the courtyard flowers bloom; they drape themselves 'round tombs and rows of crosses.... In their garden flowers bloom; they pick them, decorate their room. It's touching.
In the courtyard flowers still bloom around the graves, but now in their own garden, the couple tends to the flowers and decorates their room with them. It's a touching image of their love.
It's touching, so touching. It's touching, so touching.
The story of the fool and Princess Coldheart's love is touching, and it is emphasized by the repetition of the phrase.
Contributed by Elizabeth S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davefromthegrave9815
I first heard this song when I was 11 years old in 1991. It's now April of 2023 and it still sounds just as great as it did when I first heard it.
@jskirwin
Almost 30 years later and I still remember this song like I heard it yesterday. Still love the LPD even though I'm old.
@GabriellaGracexo
Timeless music
@modernprimitiveOH
LPD's - one of my favorite songs from their career - heard them preform this live in Milwaukee in the 1990's :D
@Gazerich
@thebrowniesaur22 You and Me and the Rainbows by Tear Garden(another band by the same singer Edward Qa' Spel, sometimes spelt Ka'Spel) will blow your mind. He also has solo material which is just as awesome.
@Geemonster69
Sounds a little like Syd Barretts Pink Floyd
@stevemalibu99
Genius on so many levels
@kosemekars
Pink Floyd - The Gnome.
I love LPD to be clear.
@mikhalkovich
so touching
@stephaniesouter
I love this!