Mizake The Mizan

[mmmender]

This is not a Cocteau song that's talked about very often. I can't remember where I read or heard this but I recall mention of the song title actually being a take on 'Make The Man'.

I'm wondering if any of you have ever tried to work out the lyrics to this song? I found someone's online translation, posted below, but I don't think it seems very likely.

MIZAKE THE MIZAN


Saw a mermaid in the
Long dirt closely flow
Become

Grey water
Hoist and throw me down in the water
They follow
Hoist and throw me down the waterfall

So until the hour
May call cherie hey yeah
Honey

Grey water
Hoist and throw me down in the water
They throw
Pushes something misses in me
(x2)

Saw a mermaid in the
Lagoon, 'cause little
Become

Grey water
Hoist and throw me down in the water
Drowning
Hoist and throw me down the waterfall

[Brett]

I don't care what it means or says but it's a whole lot better than Watchlar, musically.

Light blue touchpaper
Stand well back.

[mmmender]

You've got to be kidding me!! Watchlar is one of my all time faves!!!

[gladwin]

I can't remember where I read or heard this but I recall mention of the song title actually being a take on 'Make The Man'

It might have been me, on this forum, some years ago. I bought a "Dictionary of the Underworld" - criminal and tramp slang from the 19th and early 20th centuries - from a bookshop, and was amazed to find "Oil of Angels" (a bribe) amongst the entries.

Naturally, this led to some Cocteau Twins-inspired scouring of the book, which threw up a surprising number of hits: a "Squeeze-wax" is a lawyer, and "M(iz)ake the M(iz)an" is a form of disguised English designed to hide the real meaning from eavesdroppers.

There were also some half-hits: a "Spangle" is a forged coin, for example.

I think I still have the typed list of these finds in the back of the book (I did it over ten years and two moves ago, so fingers crossed).

If anyone's interested, I could post up details of the whole lot, plus the book itself.

[frarn]

It might have been me, on this forum, some years ago. I bought a "Dictionary of the Underworld" - criminal and tramp slang from the 19th and early 20th centuries - from a bookshop, and was amazed to find "Oil of Angels" (a bribe) amongst the entries.

Naturally, this led to some Cocteau Twins-inspired scouring of the book, which threw up a surprising number of hits: a "Squeeze-wax" is a lawyer, and "M(iz)ake the M(iz)an" is a form of disguised English designed to hide the real meaning from eavesdroppers.

There were also some half-hits: a "Spangle" is a forged coin, for example.

I think I still have the typed list of these finds in the back of the book (I did it over ten years and two moves ago, so fingers crossed).

If anyone's interested, I could post up details of the whole lot, plus the book itself.


I'd love to see more of this information - perhaps even some details about the actual book (ISBN, author, publisher?)

[gladwin]

I'd love to see more of this information - perhaps even some details about the actual book (ISBN, author, publisher?)

I'll need to look out the Cocteau Twins-related entries at home tonight, but here's a link to the book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wordsworth-Dictionary-Underworld-Reference/dp/1853263613/ref=sr_1_1/203-0170059-5327157?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174562130&sr=1-1

It seems to be out of print, but most of the used versions are on offer at a low price.

Here's a link to the hardcover version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Underworld-Eric-Partridge/dp/1853269352/ref=sr_1_22/203-0170059-5327157?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174562284&sr=1-22

Also out of print, but again it's available cheap if you want a copy.

Last of all, here's a US link:

http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Underworld-Wordsworth-Collection-Partridge/dp/1853263613

[Brett]

You've got to be kidding me!! Watchlar is one of my all time faves!!!

Straight up, honest as a die guvenor. kiss1 Too processed, too cold and lumpen. Not what they were about for me.