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)
Get Blown Away
Ocean Colour Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She says a prayer for all of those who live in houses and in homes
And Monday she'll go down town standing naked in the road
You may know what I am
But who I am you don't know
She'll run across the mustard dust sand
Scream down the wind
Like when in holiday homes
And houses like sweet confectionery
And sandcastles and drinking wine
Hungry dinners perfectly timed
And mother and father glowing young
Happy to be each other together
When she blows the candle out
She goes to bed and lies and drags through her head
The day that went way of every day
But tomorrow she'll fly a plane
Over the fields where the houses aren't built yet
She smiled sweetly across the room
Through the lunch time smoke
And I loved her for a second
And discarded the queen and I know
How sweetness turns sour
And leaves they turn to brown
And then to earth and dust
And settle in this town
You get blown away...
(repeat 1st half)
She smiled sweetly across the lunch time smoke
And I loved her for a second and discarded the queen and I know
When men are being little boys again
And women cruel step mothers of old
And this is the invention
The adventure of my own
I get blown away...
The lyrics of Ocean Colour Scene's song "Get Blown Away" are enigmatic and enigmatic in themselves. Beginning with a metaphorical reference to blowing out a candle and saying a prayer for people living in houses and homes, the song uses an array of vivid, evocative images to convey a sense of fleeting beauty and passing time. The singer reflects on moments of joy and connection, like watching his lover run across a sandy beach or sharing a meal with family, as well as moments of disillusionment and disappointment, like the realization that sweet affection can easily turn sour. Throughout the song, the singer seems to be struggling to define his identity and his place in the world, recognizing that despite all he might know or accomplish, he will never fully understand who he is or what his life is for.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it is about the fleeting nature of happiness and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can feel fragmented and transitory. The image of blowing out a candle and saying a prayer for others could be seen as an expression of compassion and connection, a recognition that we all share the same fragility and mortality. The reference to standing naked in the road on Monday might suggest a rejection of societal norms and expectations, a desire to break free from the constraints of convention and live life on one's own terms. The final repetition of the phrase "get blown away" could be interpreted as a kind of resignation or acceptance, a recognition that even the most beautiful moments in life will eventually come to an end and that we must learn to let them go.
Line by Line Meaning
And when she blows the candle flame to smoke
She lights a candle and prays for people who don't have homes, but when she blows it out, she reflects on her own day.
She says a prayer for all of those who live in houses and in homes
She takes a moment to appreciate what she has and reflect on those who are less fortunate.
And Monday she'll go down town standing naked in the road
She's not afraid to be herself and stand out in a crowd. She's willing to take risks and be bold.
You may know what I am
People might know what she looks like or what she does, but they don't really know who she is on the inside.
But who I am you don't know
Her true self is hidden beneath the surface and cannot be seen by others at a glance.
She'll run across the mustard dust sand
She's adventurous and isn't afraid to explore new places, even if they're not comfortable or familiar.
Scream down the wind
She expresses herself freely and isn't afraid to be loud or passionate about her beliefs.
And the sea is in a cold
The ocean has a chilly vibe and creates a feeling of detachment or loneliness.
Like when in holiday homes
It's reminiscent of being in a vacation rental, where you feel out of place and like a stranger in someone else's home.
And houses like sweet confectionery
Houses feel comforting and warm, like a sweet treat that you want to savor slowly.
And sandcastles and drinking wine
These are symbolic of having fun and enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
Hungry dinners perfectly timed
Meals are an essential part of life and they're enjoyed even more when they're shared with loved ones.
And mother and father glowing young
Her parents are happy and supportive, and they bring a positive energy to her life.
Happy to be each other together
Her parents have a strong relationship and enjoy spending time together.
When she blows the candle out
She reflects on the day and prepares for sleep.
She goes to bed and lies and drags through her head
Her thoughts are racing and she can't seem to quiet her mind enough to fall asleep.
The day that went way of every day
The day was unremarkable and followed the routine of every other day.
But tomorrow she'll fly a plane
Tomorrow brings new opportunities, and she's excited to take on whatever comes her way.
Over the fields where the houses aren't built yet
She's exploring uncharted territory, going to places where man-made structures haven't yet been erected.
She smiled sweetly across the room
She shows kindness to others and is pleasant to be around.
Through the lunch time smoke
This is symbolic of the daily grind and routine of life, which can feel suffocating and constricting.
And I loved her for a second
He momentarily fell in love with her and admired her good qualities.
And discarded the queen and I know
He rejected traditional ideas of beauty and status and recognized the value of authenticity and individuality.
When men are being little boys again
Sometimes people revert to immature behavior, even in adulthood.
And women cruel step mothers of old
Women can sometimes be portrayed unfairly in popular culture, like stepmothers in fairy tales.
And this is the invention
This is a creation of his imagination or a new way of thinking about things.
The adventure of my own
This is his personal journey, and he's excited to see where it takes him.
You get blown away...
Life moves quickly and can be intense and overwhelming at times, but it's important to keep moving forward and enjoying the ride.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMON MINCHELLA, OSCAR LLOYD HARRISON, SIMON FOWLER, STEPHEN CRADOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pedropicasso4685
Absolutely top class
Seen them at Stirling Castle back in 97 or 98
I'm 46 now and I was lucky in my late teeens/20s that we had so many top bands at that time
OCS in my top 5
Oasis
The Beatles
The Jam
Stone Roses
OCS
@MelchizedekKohen
And when she blows the candle flame to smoke
She says a prayer for all of those who live in houses and in homes
And Monday she'll go down town standing naked in the road
You may know what I am
But who I am you don't know
She'll run across the mustard dust sand
Scream down the wind
And the sea is in a cold
Like when in holiday homes
And houses like sweet confectionery
And sandcastles and drinking wine
Hungry dinners perfectly timed
And mother and father glowing young
Happy to be each other together
When she blows the candle out
She goes to bed and lies and drags through her head
The day that went way of every day
But tomorrow she'll fly a plane
Over the fields where the houses aren't built yet
She smiled sweetly across the room
Through the lunch time smoke
And I loved her for a second
And discarded the queen and I know
How sweetness turns sour
And leaves they turn to brown
And then to earth and dust
And settle in this town
You get blown away...
She smiled sweetly across the lunch time smoke
And I loved her for a second and discarded the queen and I know
When men are being little boys again
And women cruel step mothers of old
And this is the invention
The adventure of my own
I get blown away...
@hollydoyle6622
One of the most underrated songs ever
Amazes me that it’s never been covered it’s a timeless classic
@VeteranHedonist
Definately.....
@daveshaw2648
The Enemy (remember them?) did a cover of it.
@Evergreen0021
The whole album is a classic. So underrated.
@thomasmoran9920
Dead rite great song
@PetrisonRocha
I'm only an average joe, but I just did a cover of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFYNd4WUZ3Q
@seanwines4184
Saw them play this live last night! Still sound incredible and I feel so lucky they came all the way down to Cornwall to play, big love!
@theruben3866
i seriously think that this one is my favorite song ever. But, I mean, it's not like saying "omg this is the best song evaaaah". No, this is my favorite song of all time, I love it like few other things in my life. From italy.
@nuncaolvidare4895
🙏💙❤
@waco5612
Agreed 👍