Belle and Sebastian released their first two albums in 1996: Tigermilk, recorded over three days, and If You're Feeling Sinister, recorded in a week, at the peak of the chamber pop movement. At first, some critics in Britain's music weeklies tied the band into the subgenre, yet the group was too pretty, too delicate, to bear that label. Through their first two years of public existence, the band shielded their personalities, submitting publicity photos featuring a girl, who was a friend of the band and reluctantly posing for photo shoots. Furthermore, they performed in odd venues, playing not only the standard coffeehouses and cafes, but also homes, church halls, and libraries.
Prior to the formation of Belle and Sebastian, Murdoch suffered from a protracted battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, which forced him to drop out of school and spend seven years living in his parents' home crippled by his condition.Whilst in his parents home, Murdoch wrote a short story about a boy named Sebastian and a girl named Isabelle based on the names from Madame Cecile Aubery's children's book Belle et Sebastian. On New Year's Day 1996, Stuart attended a party at which he met a young singer and cellist named Isobel Campbell. In a letter to his brother Fraser, Murdoch explained how he was making a single for Stow college at the end of February. Murdoch opted to use the name Belle&Sebastian for the project because it was occupying him at the time. Murdoch took to songwriting as an escapism from the four walls surrounding him in his room and eventually recorded demos with bassist Stuart David whom he met at a government training programme called Beatbox. Murdoch quickly met a series of other musicians through social and musical circles in his hometown Glasgow and they agreed to help with the Stow project. The members he found for this initial lineup were Stevie Jackson (guitar), Mick Cooke (trumpet), Chris Geddes (keyboards), Stuart David (bass), Richard Colburn (drums), and Isobel Campbell (cello). The Stow College record was to be issued by Electric Honey, but it turned into a full album. The course instructor Alan Rankine determined that Murdoch had enough good material to record a full LP and could do so if they could get it all done in three days, studio time allotted for the single. Murdoch and his musicians rose to the challenge and recorded ten tracks putting the songs in order as they would appear on the record and mostly completing them in just a few takes.
In May of 1996, Belle and Sebastian self-released their debut album, Tigermilk, on Electric Honey Records. Only 1,000 copies of the album, which was only pressed on vinyl, were released, but it unexpectedly became a sensation, earning terrific word of mouth throughout the UK. As a result, the band became slightly more than a school project — it became an actual band. If You're Feeling Sinister, released on the independent Jeepster label, followed in November of 1996. By the time the album was released in America on the EMI subsidiary The Enclave, it had earned considerable critical acclaim in the U.K. — not only from music weeklies, but from newspapers like The Sunday Times and magazines like The Face — and a large cult following; by some accounts, Tigermilk was being sold for as much as 75 pounds. Over the course of 1997, word of mouth continued to grow in America, even as the band pulled out of an American tour because The Enclave went bankrupt and closed.
As the band cult continued to build in 1997, Belle and Sebastian released three EPs — Dog on Wheels (May), Lazy Line Painter Jane (July), and 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light (October). Each subsequent EP placed higher on the indie charts and received great critical acclaim. Later in the year, violinist Sarah Martin became a member of the band. By the end of the year, the group finalized an American deal with Matador Records, issuing The Boy With the Arab Strap in September 1998. The following year saw the eagerly anticipated wide re-release of Tigermilk, the album that started it all. It was the biggest selling album but is unpopular with the group themselves. Following completion of 2000's Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, Stuart David left Belle and Sebastian to focus full-time on his solo project, Looper, being replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin. In 2001, the group released two EPs — Jonathan David and I'm Waking Up to Us — and recorded the soundtrack for Todd Solondz's film Storytelling. Just before the soundtrack's release in spring 2002, Belle and Sebastian embarked on a comprehensive tour of the United States and Canada before returning to Europe for the summer festival season. Midway through the tour, Isobel Campbell left the band, citing the usual differences.
Another major change that soon took place was the band leaving Jeepster and Matador to sign with Rough Trade, with their next record, late 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, produced by the inimitable Trevor Horn (who also produced Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Yes, and scores of others). The record spawned the brilliant "Step into My Office, Baby" and "I'm a Cuckoo" singles, the latter of which was the group's biggest U.K. hit, reaching number 14 in early 2004. After a long worldwide tour that found Belle and Sebastian reaching new levels of success, they retired to Scotland and began preparing for the recording of their seventh full length album, The Life Pursuit, released in 2006.
In 2010, they released their eighth full length album, Write About Love.
Official website: www.belleandsebastian.com
I'm a Cuckoo
Belle and Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had a funny dream
You were wearing funny shoes
You were going to a dance
You were dressed like a punk but you are too young to remember
Glad to see you
I'm outside the house
I've got no energy
I'm glad that you are waiting with me
Tell me all about your day
Breaking off is misery
I see a wilderness for you and me
Punctuated by philosophy
And a wondering how things could've been
I'm happy for you
You've made it hard for me
I counted on your company
You are staying with your friends tonight
I'm feeling sorry for myself
I keep taking everything to be a sign
I'm happy for you
Now I know this hurt is poison
Too sharp to be bled
I'm sitting on my empty bed
On my empty bed
At night the fever grows it's pounding pounding
I'd rather be in Tokyo
I'd rather listen to Thin Lizzy-oh
Watch the Sunday gang in Harajuku
There's something wrong with me, I'm a cuckoo
Scary moment, lovin' every moment
I was high from playing shows
We lost a singer to her clothes
My trouble raised its ugly head
I was revealed
And I was home in bed
I was a kid again
Jesus told me, go after every coin like it was the last in the world
And protect the wayward child
But I'm a little lost sheep
I need my Bo Peep
I know I need My Shepherd here tonight
Breaking off is misery
I see a wilderness for you and me
Punctuated by philosophy
And a wondering how things could've been
I'd like to see you
But really I should stay away
And let you settle down
I've got no claims to your crown
I was the boss of you
And I loved you
You know I loved you
It's all over now
I was there for you
When you were lonely
I was there when you were sad
I was there when you were bad
Now it's my time of need
I'm thinking, do I have to plead to get you by my side?
I'd rather be in Tokyo
I'd rather listen to Thin Lizzy-oh
Watch the Sunday gang in Harajuku
There's something wrong with me, I'm a cuckoo
The song “I'm a Cuckoo” by Belle and Sebastian is a tale of heartbreak and longing. The song starts off with the singer seeing someone they know, and asking about their day. While the conversation appears pretty bland, the singer is feeling pretty down, and soon starts to think about the one they’ve lost. This is revealed when the singer starts to wish they were somewhere else – in Tokyo, listening to Thin Lizzy – anywhere but where they are right now. They are hurting, feeling sorry for themselves, and wondering why the other person is moving on so easily. But throughout their inner turmoil, the singer still cares for the other person, even though they know they need to stay away.
The song is full of vivid imagery that brings to mind the wandering mind of someone who is heartbroken. The themes of missed connections, feeling out of place and being unsure of your own emotions all come together to create a resonant and emotional piece of music. Despite the wistful tone of the song, it is ultimately uplifting, as the singer learns to accept, let go of the past and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm glad to see you
I'm outside the house and not feeling well, but I'm happy to be with you and hear about your day.
Breaking off is misery
I see a wilderness for you and me
Punctuated by philosophy
And a wondering how things could've been
Ending our relationship is painful and scary. I see a future of uncertainty and philosophical questioning.
I'm happy for you
You've made it hard for me
I counted on your company
You are staying with your friends tonight
I'm feeling sorry for myself
I keep taking everything to be a sign
I'm genuinely happy for you, but it's tough for me to be alone tonight. I depended on you and now I'm feeling down and overthinking everything.
Now I know this hurt is poison
Too sharp to be bled
I'm sitting on my empty bed
On my empty bed
At night the fever grows it's pounding pounding
I realize now that this pain is unbearable and it's hard to let it out. I'm alone in my bed and can't sleep, tormented by my emotions.
I'd rather be in Tokyo
I'd rather listen to Thin Lizzy-oh
Watch the Sunday gang in Harajuku
There's something wrong with me, I'm a cuckoo
I have strange interests and desires that make me feel like an outsider. I'm a bit of a misfit and it's hard for me to fit in.
Scary moment, lovin' every moment
I was high from playing shows
We lost a singer to her clothes
My trouble raised its ugly head
I was revealed
And I was home in bed
I was a kid again
I had a scary experience, but I enjoyed it. I was on a high from performing, but then we lost a band member due to personal issues. My own problems resurfaced and made me feel vulnerable and like a child again.
Jesus told me, go after every coin like it was the last in the world
And protect the wayward child
But I'm a little lost sheep
I need my Bo Peep
I know I need My Shepherd here tonight
I believe in Jesus' teachings to go after what's important and protect those who are lost. But right now, I'm feeling lost myself and in need of guidance and comfort.
I'd like to see you
But really I should stay away
And let you settle down
I've got no claims to your crown
I was the boss of you
And I loved you
You know I loved you
It's all over now
Part of me wants to see you, but I know I need to distance myself and let you move on. I used to have control over our relationship, but now it's over and I have to accept it.
I was there for you
When you were lonely
I was there when you were sad
I was there when you were bad
Now it's my time of need
I'm thinking, do I have to plead to get you by my side?
I was always there for you when you needed me, but now it's my turn to ask for help. I'm wondering if I have to beg for you to be with me during this tough time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB KILDEA, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@backcombed2559
This is chicken soup for my soul,whenever I have the impending dark clouds hanging above me ,I come here and listen to Belle and Sebastian and the clouds start to clear,I think where I would be emotionally without Belle and Sebastian and teenage fanclub ,I'm proud to be Scottish ,love from sunny Edinburgh x
@Aphrobam
Same. Just last night, a horrible day...but on my way home, I felt better just by listening to them. Works every time. Tears and all, disappeared. Cheers from Greece!
@backcombed2559
@@Aphrobam thats it exactly i need not say it anymore than uv put it ,humbled you spoke ,peace RESPECT 2 U
@backcombed2559
@Dan Dugan ur a gem for your goodwill peace and love to you and yours thanks for that merry Xmas
@TheSeaTones
i honestly think this is one of the greatest songs of all time. Proper hits me in the feels :/ :)
@superdragonslayer69
ah yep. same. always returning to it. 10/10 :')
@shortallliam3142
I've come around to your viewpoint...😁🤩
@pepperachu
Belle and Sebastian are on a level most wont appreciate
@doctorworm3735
Belle & Sebastian was the theme of my late teen years. I had every one of their albums. After 10 years I had almost completely forgotten how good their music was. My ten month old son now listens to "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" and falls asleep within two or three songs. I believe it is their best album.
@bamadave83
That's awesome. I was a little late in discovering them, but in my early to mid 20's they were exactly what I was looking for. I didn't realize it until I first heard them. Going to see them live next week for the first time and i'm stoked.