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.
St. Swithin's Day
Dubstar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I suppose you were just stating your views
What was it all for?
For the weather or the battle of Agincourt
And the times that we all hoped would last
Like a train they have gone by so fast
And though we stood together at the edge of the platform
With my own hands
When I make love to your memory
It's not the same
I miss the thunder, I miss the rain
And the fact that you don't understand
Casts a shadow over this land
But the sun still shines from behind it
Thanks all the same
But I cannot bring myself to answer your letters
It's not your fault
But your honesty touches me like a fire
The Polaroids that keep us together
Will surely fade away
Like the love that we spoke of forever
On St. Swithin's day
Dubstar's song St. Swithin's Day is a song that reflects on nostalgia, loss, and the passage of time. The opening lines "Thinking back now / I suppose you were just stating your views / What was it all for? / For the weather or the battle of Agincourt" suggests that the singer is reflecting on a debate or argument they had with someone in the past that now seems insignificant. The line "And the times that we all hoped would last / Like a train they have gone by so fast" further reinforces this idea of lost time and missed opportunities. The singer then refers to a past relationship, singing "With my own hands / When I make love to your memory / It's not the same / I miss the thunder, I miss the rain." The metaphor of missing the thunder and rain could refer to the passion and intensity of the relationship that has now faded away.
The final stanza of the song is particularly poignant, with the lines "Thanks all the same / But I cannot bring myself to answer your letters / It's not your fault / But your honesty touches me like a fire." The singer is acknowledging that they have received letters from someone, possibly an ex-lover or friend, but they are unable to respond because the honesty in those letters is too painful. The final lines of the song, "The Polaroids that keep us together / Will surely fade away / Like the love that we spoke of forever / On St. Swithin's day" evoke a sense of loss and the passing of time. The Polaroids represent memories that are fading away, just like the love that was once promised to last forever.
Overall, St. Swithin's Day is a reflective and poignant song that explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking back now
Reflecting on the past, I realize
I suppose you were just stating your views
I believe you were simply expressing your opinions
What was it all for?
Why did we bother doing it in the first place?
For the weather or the battle of Agincourt
Was it about something as mundane as the weather or as historic as the Battle of Agincourt?
And the times that we all hoped would last
The good times that we wished would never end
Like a train they have gone by so fast
Passed us by as quickly as a train rushing past
And though we stood together at the edge of the platform
We were both there at the end, but it didn't matter
We were not moved by them
We felt no emotion as they passed us by
With my own hands
Using my own strength and effort
When I make love to your memory
When I think of you and our love in the past
It's not the same
It doesn't feel as good or real
I miss the thunder, I miss the rain
I miss the passion and excitement we once had
And the fact that you don't understand
Your lack of comprehension
Casts a shadow over this land
Brings a gloom over everything
But the sun still shines from behind it
But there's still a glimmer of hope
Thanks all the same
I appreciate your offer
But I cannot bring myself to answer your letters
I'm unable to respond to your messages
It's not your fault
Blaming you would be unfair
But your honesty touches me like a fire
Your truthful words affect me strongly
The Polaroids that keep us together
The pictures that preserve our memories
Will surely fade away
Will eventually lose their clarity and significance
Like the love that we spoke of forever
Just like the love we thought would last forever
On St. Swithin's day
On a specific day that had symbolic meaning for us
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Bragg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roiy Benkel
Thinking back now
I suppose you were just stating your views
What was it all for?
For the weather or the battle of Agincourt
And the times that we all hoped would last
Like a train they have gone by so fast
And though we stood together at the edge of the platform
We were not moved by them
With my own hands
When I make love to your memory
It's not the same
I miss the thunder, I miss the rain
And the fact that you don't understand
Casts a shadow over this land
But the sun still shines from behind it
Thanks all the same
But I cannot bring myself to answer your letters
It's not your fault
But your honesty touches me like a fire
The Polaroids that keep us together
Will surely fade away
Like the love that we spoke of forever
On St. Swithin's day
Cardiff Dragons
I still have the CD of the album today and this track is the best on there. I used to listen to this album all the time whilst in 2nd phase training in Catterick UK. It was an Army garrison and for an 18 year old then first time leaving home it was quite haunting and this album summed it up with the haunting vocals and melodies absolute quality. Such an underrated band. Don't make music like this no more unfortunately
Chris Daw
Stationed to the north at catterick camp , Bragg went awol to record Life’s a riot with spy vs spy .
Andy kershaw said that on a tape I recorded from the radio. You reminded me and have something in common with our billy.
Crassus
man, I just love Sarah's voice, how she enunciates, how she conveys her feelings. I imagine it as the singing of a medieval English maiden, I could listen to her for hours
djpheeze
Dubstar... the greatest band I'll never convince anyone else to like. I miss them.
easylee
@djpheeze this wins the 90s
djpheeze
The best one-line summary of Dubstar I ever heard was: "The musical equivalent of a great day out at the beach, while back home your best mate shags your girlfriend."
Talalay99
I think they are terrific - love the unusual mix of happy upbeat music with sombre lyrics "When the doorbell strangely rang"... those eere touches make them so unique... they even did one song about Euthanasia... to a happy tune of course!
Nick Welch
It is a stunning song, made even better by a genuinely fine cover. Bragg and Dubstar in perfect harmony, though Bragg may disagree. This version is quite brilliant.
Ben Discoe
When she sings "St. Swithin's Day, and the music recedes to a series of achingly beautiful soft chords, I cry. Every time.
paledave1
me too