In 1993, the start of the turnaround occurred. Paul Weller invited the band to support him on some dates of his tour. On the back of these performances, Weller invited guitarist Steve Cradock to play on one of his singles, and vocalist Simon Fowler to sing on his album, Wild Wood. Cradock was asked to play live with Weller on his tour, and the money Cradock made kept the band afloat during this time.
Britpop fame (1995–2000)
The band recorded a demo that was sent to various industry figures. After hearing this tape, Noel Gallagher invited the band to play with Oasis on their 1995 tour. This support slot brought OCS to the attention of more record labels, and eventually in late 1995, the band signed with MCA Records. With the explosion of the Britpop scene, OCS's music became nationally and internationally known. Their second album Moseley Shoals was released to mixed-to-positive reviews, containing four hit singles and reached No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart. They also played at one of the concerts at Knebworth House supporting Oasis in August 1996.
Marchin' Already, the follow-up to Moseley Shoals, went to No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart, displacing Oasis' Be Here Now at the top of the charts in 1997. In 1998 they headlined their own arena tour in support of Marchin' Already and played three sold out nights at Stirling Castle, Scotland.
One from the Modern was released in 1999, and peaked in the UK Albums Chart at No. 4. The record spawned three top 40 singles, "Profit in Peace", "So Low" and "July". A Greatest Hits album, Songs for the Front Row, was released in 2001.
Post-Britpop (2001–2008)
After splitting with bassist Damon Minchella, the band continued to record and perform. Releases in 2001 (Mechanical Wonder), 2003 (North Atlantic Drift), 2005 (A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad) and 2007 (On the Leyline) continued the trend of releasing new material every two years.
2004 saw the band release their first live album, Live: One for the Road. The album was a compilation of nineteen live tracks taken from various concerts. In 2006 the band released a live acoustic album, Live at the Jam House, which consisted of fifteen live tracks and also contained four new songs in "Great Man in Waiting", "The Word", "Still Trying" and "Matilda's England".
The band also released a live album in December 2006, which was recorded at Birmingham Academy and spread over two discs. People attending the gig were able to purchase the recording straight afterwards.
Recent years (2009–present)
In 2009, the band went into the studio with producer Gavin Monaghan, known for his work with Editors, Scott Matthews and The Twang, to work on a new album, Saturday, with a release date of 1 February 2010 to mark the 21st anniversary of the band. The album had a working title of 'Rockfield', named after the studios where it was recorded, but it was released as Saturday - both "Rockfield" and "Saturday" being tracks thereon.
On 2 November 2009, the band released a free downloadable version of a new song, "Mrs Maylie". "Magic Carpet Days", the first single from Saturday, was released on 25 January, followed by the album a few days later. The album charted at No. 35 on the UK Albums Chart. A second single, "Saturday", was released in May 2010 but it failed to chart. On 24 July 2010 they performed at the Wickerman Festival.
On 11 October 2010, the band released a 4-CD box set, 21, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the band. It included many previously unreleased tracks and a brand new song entitled "Twenty One".
In March 2011, the band released a 15th anniversary special edition of their 1996 hit album Moseley Shoals. It consisted of the full album, b-sides and live tracks. The band played a full UK tour in support of the re-release. December saw the limited edition release of a double CD/DVD release of the band's Moseley Shoals gig at O2 Academy Birmingham, which was filmed on 26 February 2011. They performed an acoustic set at Lanford Live in 2011 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. In December 2012, the band announced the forthcoming release of their tenth studio album, Painting, which was released on 11 February 2013. They also played at V-festival where Inbetweeners actor James Buckley performed "The Circle" with them in Chelmsford and at The Electric Picnic Festival in Stradbally, Ireland.
In 2014 a special edition of Marchin' Already was released on a 2 CD edition and a special deluxe 4 disc box set which included a DVD of their live performance at Stirling Castle in 1998. Early 2015 saw the band celebrate their 25th anniversary with some acoustic concerts around the UK. They released a double CD live album which was recorded at the Manchester concert on the tour.
The following year, in 2016, the band announced several special concerts around the UK to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1996 hit album Moseley Shoals. They also played several dates in Australia for the first time in their career.
On 22 June 2016, the band officially announced that Scottish musician Raymond Meade would be joining the band permanently on bass, following the departures of both Dan Sealey and Andy Bennett. Meade had already played live with the band since the start of the year.
In November 2018 the band unveiled their first new material in five years since the release of Painting. The four track EP was released on 10" vinyl and available only at the band's Christmas shows. The EP received a 5 stars rating from Flick of the Finger, with the publication stating that 'Lushly textured, these four compelling and diverse new offerings are nothing short of brilliant.' In 2023 the band released a career-spanning box set entitled Yesterday, Today 1992–2018, which contained all their studio albums and 5 bonus CDs, totalling 230 tracks. The set also came with a 72-page book. A companion vinyl box set was also released, covering their first three studio albums from 1992–1997. In May, a follow-up vinyl set was released, covering the three studio albums released between 1999-2003. August saw the release of the final box set, covering the remaining four albums, 2005-2013.
Studio albums
Ocean Colour Scene (1992)
Moseley Shoals (1996)
Marchin' Already (1997)
B-Sides: Seasides & Freerides (1997)
One from the Modern (1999)
Mechanical Wonder (2001)
North Atlantic Drift (2003)
A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad (2005)
On the Leyline (2007)
Saturday (2010)
Painting (2013)
40 Past Midnight
Ocean Colour Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's coming fourty past the hour
In the midnight lonely freezing hour
With my insides churning in the gutter
And I'm waiting fourty past midnight
Catching rain in the soda light
Won't you come & call me to your window
We could have the best time if you lighten up your life
With my pockets holey in the inside
With my bus ride rolling in the gutter
But if you would only light your lamp light
Then I would be here than any other
Well I'm waiting fourty past midnight
Catching cold in the pouring rain
Won't you come & take me to your door
So I can take myself home again
We could have the best time if you lighten up your life
When I'm waiting standing on the corner
And the soda light begins to flicker
And it's getting fourty past the hour
And I think I won't see what I figure
Well I'm waiting freezing on the inside
Staring up at your window pane
If you won't come see me this evening
I can see myself here again
We could have the best days if you lighten up your life
We could have the best time if you lighten up your life
The lyrics of Ocean Colour Scene's song "40 Past Midnight" tell the story of a man waiting on a street corner at 40 minutes past midnight. He is waiting for someone to arrive, someone who could potentially light up his life if they would only give him the chance. The man is desperate for this person to call him to their window, to invite him into their life and their world, but as the night wears on and the rain pours down, he realizes that the chances of this happening are growing slimmer and slimmer.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of loneliness and desolation, with references to the "midnight lonely freezing hour", the "gutter", and the "cold in the pouring rain". They also offer a glimmer of hope, with the man holding onto the idea that things could be different if only the person he is waiting for would "lighten up their life". Ultimately, however, the song is a reminder that sometimes the things we hope for and dream of simply do not come to pass.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm waiting standing on the corner
The singer is standing on the street corner, waiting for someone.
And it's coming fourty past the hour
The time is 40 minutes past the hour.
In the midnight lonely freezing hour
It's late at night and very cold outside.
With my insides churning in the gutter
The artist is nervous and anxious.
And I'm waiting fourty past midnight
The artist is still waiting for someone at 40 minutes past midnight.
Catching rain in the soda light
The streetlamp is casting a soft glow on the rain falling around the singer.
Won't you come & call me to your window
The singer is asking the person they're waiting for to call them over to their window.
Please don't leave me waiting on the corner
The artist is pleading not to be left waiting any longer.
We could have the best time if you lighten up your life
The artist believes they could have a great time if the other person would just relax and enjoy themselves more.
With my pockets holey in the inside
The artist's pockets have holes in them.
With my bus ride rolling in the gutter
The singer's bus ride has left them feeling dirty and low.
But if you would only light your lamp light
The artist is asking the person they're waiting for to turn on their lamp in the window to show they're coming.
Then I would be here than any other
The singer would be there for the other person more than anyone else.
Catching cold in the pouring rain
The singer is getting very cold because it's raining heavily.
Won't you come & take me to your door
The singer is asking the other person to come get them and take them inside.
So I can take myself home again
The artist wants to make sure they can get home safely.
When I'm waiting standing on the corner
The artist is thinking about when they're waiting on the corner.
And the soda light begins to flicker
The streetlamp is starting to flicker.
And it's getting fourty past the hour
It's approaching 40 minutes past the hour.
And I think I won't see what I figure
The artist is worried they won't get what they're hoping for.
Well I'm waiting freezing on the inside
The artist is cold and feeling anxious.
Staring up at your window pane
The artist is looking up at the person's window, hoping to see them.
If you won't come see me this evening
The singer is afraid the other person won't show up to see them.
I can see myself here again
The artist is resigned to waiting again in the future.
We could have the best days if you lighten up your life
The singer believes they could have great times in the future if the other person would just relax and enjoy themselves more.
We could have the best time if you lighten up your life
The singer believes they could have a great time if the other person would just relax and enjoy themselves more.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMON MINCHELLA, OSCAR LLOYD HARRISON, SIMON FOWLER, STEPHEN CRADOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CelticWarrior1967
Taking anything from the stones, and making it better is a win in my book!
Amazing song amazing band ☆☆☆☆☆
@johncadden202
One of my all time favourite albums.
@thomasmoran9920
3 COMMENTS THAT'S NOT RITE, BEST BAND
@darrelldoo4golf
One of those rare albums you can listen to all the way through without feeling the urge to skip a track or two. And, yes - very Rolling Stones circa 66/67; win, win in my book. Choon!
@ArcanEntropy
Circa
@AndyDwyerSpeaks
I've been sat here in Egypt listening to a slow song sang by a lady and I couldn't place it....but it's Lets spend the night together and I wanted to tell my GF what I thought it was and played this!! So similar...Great album this is!! A SOUNDTRACK to my early teens! !love it
@Rascaduanok
All I can think when I hear the intro is: "Let's spend the night together! Now I need you more than ever!"
@caffreys1979
@MusicalElitist1 ofc it is... U got cloth ears?? That melody/riff is so obvious.
@lucyball1866
I never noticed that. But then I don't listen to the stones. Just checked with a stones listen and you are spot on! Thanks for pointing out. Wonder how they didn't wind up with a plagiarism case... maybe they had permission