“We probably did get a bee in our bonnet about it not being Cocteau Twins, because that was Head Over Heels time and it felt more right to have success because of Cocteau Twins music. Having said that, though, I heard it played in a shop…and I liked it. I realised why I got in such a pickle and it wasn’t because it was a bad recording of an amazing song. It is a beautiful song.” Elizabeth Fraser

• 1983, 1984
• 4AD
• AD 310, BAD 310, CAD 411

Track listing

1. Song to the Siren
   • (Tracks featuring Cocteau Twins members)
   • Song to the Siren
   • Sixteen Days (Reprise)
2. Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust
   • (Tracks featuring Cocteau Twins members)
   • Sixteen Days - Gathering Dust
   • Song to the Siren
   • Sixteen Days (Reprise)
3. It’ll End in Tears
   • (Tracks featuring Cocteau Twins members)
   • Kangaroo
   • Song to the Siren
   • The Last Ray
   • Another Day
   • Barramundi
   • Not Me
   • A Single Wish

Formats

• Vinyl
• Cassette
• CD
• Digital

Performers

• Elizabeth Fraser
• Robin Guthrie
• Simon Raymonde

Release notes

• Sixteen Days / Gathering Dust
  • Vocals on “Sixteen Days” and “Sixteen Days (Reprise)” by Elizabeth Fraser, featuring Cinder, credited as ‘Gordon Sharp’.
  • Vocals on “Song to the Siren” by Elizabeth Fraser.
  • Guitar on “Song to the Siren” by Robin Guthrie.
  • Produced by Ivo Watts-Russell and John Fryer.
  • Engineered by John Fryer.
  • Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London.
• It’ll End in Tears
  • “Kangaroo” bass, acoustic guitar, and Yamaha DX7 by Simon Raymonde.
  • “Song to the Siren” vocals by Elizabeth Fraser; Guitars: Robin Guthrie.
  • “The Last Ray” 6 and 12-string acoustic, electric, and e-bow guitars by Robin Guthrie; Bass by Simon Raymonde.
  • “Another Day” vocals by Elizabeth Fraser.
  • “Barramundi” guitars and Yamaha DX7 by Simon Raymonde.
  • “Not Me” guitar by Robin Guthrie; Bass by Simon Raymonde.
  • “A Single Wish” Gizmo and DX7 by Simon Raymonde.
  • Conceived and produced by Ivo Watts-Russell.
  • Co-produced and engineered by John Fryer.
  • Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London.
  • All additional loops, instruments, and incidentals by Ivo and John Fryer.
  • Videos were produced for “Song to the Siren” and “Kangaroo.”
  • Robin and Elizabeth did not participate in This Mortal Coil following the release of It’ll End In Tears.
  • “Song to the Siren” was included in the 1992 4AD compilation Lilliput.
  • “Song to the Siren” has been performed live occasionally by Cocteau Twins, most recently during the 1995/96 “Milk & Kisses Tour.”
  • Elizabeth Fraser performed “Song to the Siren” during her live solo performances in Bath and London, England in 2012.
  • “Song to the Siren” was included on the two-disc compilation that accompanied the 2013 book, Facing the Other Way: The Story of 4AD, by Martin Aston.