"Song to the Siren" is a haunting, ethereal cover by This Mortal Coil, released as their debut single in September 1983 and later included on the influential 1984 album It’ll End in Tears. The track features Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) and Robin Guthrie (guitar) of Cocteau Twins, and is widely regarded as a defining moment for both the 4AD label and the dream-pop genre123.
Origins and Chart Performance
Originally written by Tim Buckley and lyricist Larry Beckett, the song first appeared on Buckley’s 1970 album Starsailor. This Mortal Coil’s version entered the UK Independent Singles Chart at No. 31, peaked at No. 3, and spent an extraordinary 101 weeks on the chart—the fourth longest run of the 1980s. It also reached No. 66 on the main UK Singles Chart43.
Musical Style and Interpretation
This Mortal Coil’s take strips the song to its emotional core: Fraser’s otherworldly, fragile vocals float above Guthrie’s minimal, reverb-soaked guitar, creating an atmosphere of longing and melancholy. The arrangement is stark and intimate, amplifying the song’s sense of yearning and loss15.
Lyrics and Meaning
The lyrics draw on Greek mythology, with the siren symbolizing an unattainable, irresistible love that lures the narrator to emotional shipwreck. The song explores unrequited love, longing, and the pain of desiring someone who remains forever out of reach:
"Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning, broken lovelorn on your rocks.
For you sing, 'Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow.'
Oh my heart, oh my heart shies from the sorrow."
The siren’s call represents the allure of the unattainable, while the narrator’s journey across "shipless oceans" becomes a metaphor for the endless search for connection and meaning657.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
This Mortal Coil’s version is often cited as one of the most beautiful and emotionally powerful covers ever recorded. It revived interest in Tim Buckley’s original work and has been featured in films (Lost Highway, The Lovely Bones) and television. Its influence endures in dream-pop, post-punk, and alternative music circles3.
Key Facts Table
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | This Mortal Coil |
| Original Songwriters | Tim Buckley, Larry Beckett |
| Release (TMC version) | September 1983 (single), 1984 (album: It’ll End in Tears) |
| Vocalist | Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) |
| Guitarist | Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) |
| Chart Performance | UK Indie #3, 101 weeks on chart; UK Singles #66 |
| Notable Themes | Unrequited love, longing, mythological metaphor |
| Legacy | Dream-pop classic, influential cover, film/TV usage |
Summary
"Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil transforms a folk classic into a timeless, dreamlike lament for unreachable love. Fraser’s haunting voice and Guthrie’s sparse guitar create a soundscape that is both intimate and vast, capturing the ache of desire and the beauty of longing1435.
