Exploring the Ethereal Longing in Cocteau Twins' 'Crushed'

The song 'Crushed' by Cocteau Twins, a band known for their ethereal soundscapes and the distinctive, often indecipherable vocals of Elizabeth Fraser, presents a lyrical journey that is both enigmatic and emotionally charged. The lyrics, though abstract, seem to revolve around themes of love, desire, and perhaps the feeling of being overwhelmed or consumed by these emotions. The repetition of phrases like 'Feign for love' and 'Honey they're losing me' suggests a struggle between the appearance of love and the actual loss of self within it.

The term 'translipped,' which is not a standard English word, appears to be a neologism that could imply a transformation or a slipping away in the context of intense emotion. The repeated questioning of whether someone has 'translipped so intent of emotion as she' could be interpreted as a reflection on whether another's emotional experience can match the depth of the speaker's own. This line, along with the repeated 'Have you translipped so intent on what you should swoon so?' adds to the song's mysterious and contemplative nature, inviting listeners to ponder the depths of their own emotional experiences and how they compare to others'.

The Cocteau Twins' music often leaves much to the listener's interpretation, and 'Crushed' is no exception. The song's atmospheric quality, combined with Fraser's haunting vocal delivery, creates a sense of yearning and introspection that is characteristic of the band's work. The lyrics, while open to interpretation, evoke a sense of being overwhelmed by emotion and the desire to understand or match the intensity of another's feelings, all set to the backdrop of the band's lush, dreamlike instrumentation.

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