Dubstar released their debut album 'Disgraceful' on Food Records in the Autumn of 1995 to worldwide critical and commercial success. Disgraceful features four UK Top 40 singles including the dreampop classic Stars, perennial radio favourite Not So Manic Now and The Day I see You Again, a ballad that revisits a broken relationship that's been covered by artists as diverse as Claudia Brücken and Bon Bob Club. A timely female led version of Billy Bragg's St Swithin's Day caught the imagination of the music press; an instrumental version was even used as the theme for the BBC's coverage of the Euro '96 football championship.
The follow up album Goodbye was released two years later and spawned another three UK Top 40 singles including No More Talk, a number one radio hit in the UK. Both albums were produced by Stephen Hague.
Third album Make It Better was released in 2000 and includes the fan-favourite Self Same Thing, their last single for Food Records. A belated compilation 'Stars…the best of Dubstar' was released by EMI in 2004.
Following a twelve year hiatus, Dubstar announced the recording of new material in 2012 and release their fourth, as yet untitled album in 2013, again working with Stephen Hague.
Cathedral Park
Dubstar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This happens when something's up
And stays 'til dark
She's writing cathedral park
But her words are lame
Like her life
And then she says
When you said, there's something wrong
It seemed like, I'm living without you
Of all the ways to hurt me
Of all the things to say
A night at the bar
This happens when she's around
Three pints too far
He's a bar fly in lonely town
She sees him off
He's useless
And then he says
When you said, there's something wrong
It seemed like, I'm living without you
Of all the ways to hit me
Of all the things to say
When you said there's something wrong
It seemed like, I'm living without you
Of all the ways to hit me
Of all the things to say
When you said there's something wrong
It seemed like, I'm living without you
Of all the ways to hit me
Of all the things to say
When you said there's something wrong
It seemed like, I'm living without you
Of all the ways to hit me
Of all the things to say
The song "Cathedral Park" by Dubstar is a melancholic and reflective piece about loneliness and disconnection. The chorus echoes the pain felt by someone who has been hurt, specifically by the words of someone they care about. The opening verse sets the scene of a walk in the park, which could be seen as a peaceful and pleasant activity. However, the presence of an underlying issue suggests that there is something wrong. The line "And stays 'til dark" indicates that this issue doesn't go away and that it continues to linger.
The second verse takes place in a bar, where the singer encounters a man who is three pints too far gone. Despite her attempts to help him, he is incapable of reciprocating and instead becomes useless. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that these interactions have hurt the singer deeply, and that they feel lost and alone without the person they care about.
The final line of the song, "Of all the things to say", leaves the listener with a sense of frustration and resignation. Despite the singer's attempts to understand and connect with others, they are constantly met with hurtful words and actions. The emptiness of the lyrics paired with the soft, almost dreamy melody create a haunting and reflective mood.
Line by Line Meaning
A walk in the park
When she tries to ignore her problems and takes a walk in the park
This happens when something's up
She takes this walk when she knows that something is bothering her
And stays 'til dark
She remains in the park long enough for the darkness of the night to set in
She's writing cathedral park
She is writing down her thoughts and feelings while sitting in Cathedral Park
But her words are lame
Her writing lacks inspiration and creativity
Like her life
Her life is unexciting and boring, and her writing reflects that
And then she says
She continues to express her thoughts and feelings
When you said, there's something wrong
When someone told her that something was amiss
It seemed like, I'm living without you
She feels alone and abandoned in her struggle
Of all the ways to hurt me
The way in which she was informed of the problem was particularly painful
Of all the things to say
The words used to tell her about the problem were particularly harsh
A night at the bar
She goes out to a bar one evening
This happens when she's around
Something always goes wrong in her life when she is present
Three pints too far
She drinks too much alcohol and loses control
He's a bar fly in lonely town
She meets a man in the bar who is also struggling with loneliness and alcoholism
She sees him off
She leaves the bar and walks the man out
He's useless
The man she meets in the bar is unproductive and not helpful
When you said there's something wrong
The same painful conversation is repeating in her mind
It seemed like, I'm living without you
She feels even more isolated and lonely now
Of all the ways to hit me
The realization hits her in a particularly painful way
Of all the things to say
The words she hears in her head are particularly hurtful
When you said there's something wrong
The repetition of the painful conversation suggests that the problem is still unresolved
It seemed like, I'm living without you
She still feels alone and abandoned in her struggle
Of all the ways to hit me
The pain of the situation is being intensified
Of all the things to say
The situation is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVE HILLIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Facundo Linares
What a brilliant, underrated album. I still play it often.
Anthony Langford
Beautiful woman amazing voice. Dubstar brings back so many memories from the 90s.
mysocalledknife07
Probably my favorite Dubstar song. And, now, having seen the video for the first time, it is a fitting tribute to such a classic.
Michael Debouvier
what a great band ! Her voice !
Hany Mustafa
Exquisite melodies these guys provided
Marcel Dee
I loved Dubstar…I saw Dubstar live in Newcastle Quayside in 1990’s, Sarah Blackwood was sitting on a suitcase outside the venue ❤️❤️❤️!
Paul John Leadbeater
Ace tune from the second half of 1997. Love dubstar to death.
A P
I moved in 2016 to the US...just ordered the Dubstar cds I had in my Bournemouth flat. Forgot how much I missed Dubstar songs!
Peter Johnstone
Superb track. Not enough views!
taz chars
memories.goodbye wot an album.i remember during summer greek radio was promotin no more talk was so xcited.album wise brillliant.lv it to bits till today.smart pop that u dont see around more as much