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 (1995β2000)
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 (2001β2008)
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 (2009βpresent)
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 1992β2018, 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 1992β1997. 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)
The Day We Caught The Train
Ocean Colour Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's more a change of heart
Rapping on the windows, whistling down the chimney pot
Blowing off the dust in the room where I forgot
I laid my plans in solid rock
Stepping through the door like a troubadour
Whiling just an hour away
Feeling it's a holiday
You and I should ride the coast
And wind up in our favorite coats just miles away
Roll a number, write another song
Like Jimmy heard the day he caught the train
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la
He sipped another rum and coke
And told a dirty joke
Walking like Groucho, sucking on a number ten
Rolling on the floor with the cigarette burns walked in
I'll miss the crush when I'm home again
Stepping through the door with the night in store
Whiling just an hour away
Step into the sky in the star bright
Feeling it's a brighter day
You and I should ride the coast
And wind up in our favorite coats just miles away
Roll a number, write another song
Like Jimmy heard the day he caught the train
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la
You and I should ride the tracks
And find ourselves just wading through tomorrow
And you and I, when we're coming down
We're only getting back
And you know I feel no sorrow
(We've got the whole wide world)
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
When you find that things are getting wild
Don't you want days like these?
When you find that things are getting wild
Don't you want days like these?
When you find that things are getting wild
Don't you need days like these?
When you find that things are getting wild
Don't you want days like these, like these?
Oh-oh la-la
Oh-oh la-la
The lyrics of Ocean Colour Scene's The Day We Caught the Train are a poetic reflection on the transformative power of a spontaneous decision and the beauty of the present moment. The opening lines of the song reflect on the singer's recollection of a moment that did not register as a significant life experience at the time but now realizes it marked the beginning of a change in perspective. The subsequent lines describe the act of dusting off the room where the singer "forgot" their plans and stepping out the door "like a troubadour," ready to embrace the unknown. The chorus expresses the desire to take a coastal trip with someone special, roll a number and write a song like Jimmy, who was inspired to compose a tune after catching a train.
The second verse follows with the singer's encounter with a wild party scene, where they observe a character resembling Groucho Marx smoking while rolling around on the floor. The verse ends with the realization that the singer would miss the excitement of the party. In contrast, the chorus emphasizes the beauty of the natural world and the carefree spirit of taking a train to explore the coast. The bridge of the song is notable for its repetition of the phrase "Oh-oh la-la," which adds a catchy vocal hook and emphasizes the song's jubilant tone. The last verse exhorts the listener to live in the moment and embrace the chaos of life, ending with the repeated chorus's comforting refrain.
Ocean Colour Scene's The Day We Caught the Train was released in the summer of 1996 and quickly became a fan favorite reaching No. 4 on the UK charts. The song's production has a distinctive retro flavor, featuring jangly guitar riffs, vintage keyboards, and powerful vocal harmonies. The song was later included in the band's album Moseley Shoals, which went on to become one of the most successful British albums of the 1990s, eventually selling 1.3 million copies in the UK. The song's upbeat mood and memorable chorus have made it a popular choice for television commercials, movie soundtracks, and sporting events. The song has been covered by several artists ranging from The Wombats to Paul Weller. It remains a beloved anthem of British rock and roll and a testament to the enduring power of a catchy tune.
Line by Line Meaning
I never saw it as the start
I didn't realize at the time, but looking back it was the beginning of a big change.
It's more a change of heart
Rather than a big external event, it was a shift in my thoughts and beliefs.
Rapping on the windows, whistling down the chimney pot
The excitement and anticipation of what's to come is building up inside me.
Blowing off the dust in the room where I forgot
Revisiting an old space that I haven't used in years and cleaning it up to make it new again.
I laid my plans in solid rock
I have a clear idea of what I want and am committed to making it happen.
Stepping through the door like a troubadour
Walking out with a sense of adventure and a quest for new experiences.
Whiling just an hour away
Taking time to appreciate the moment and not rushing through things.
Looking at the trees on the roadside
Taking in the beauty of nature around me instead of just passing by it.
Feeling it's a holiday
A sense of relaxation and freedom that comes with being away from everyday life.
You and I should ride the coast
Let's take an adventure together and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
And wind up in our favorite coats just miles away
Ending up in a place that we love and feel comfortable in, even if it's not far from where we started.
Roll a number, write another song
Taking time to be creative and express ourselves.
Like Jimmy heard the day he caught the train
Inspired by the exciting stories of others who have taken a similar journey.
He sipped another rum and coke
Enjoying the simple pleasures and letting loose.
And told a dirty joke
Breaking societal norms and embracing humor that might not be considered appropriate.
Walking like Groucho, sucking on a number ten
Having fun and goofing around, regardless of how it might look to others.
Rolling on the floor with the cigarette burns walked in
Letting go of all restraints and being completely free to be oneself.
I'll miss the crush when I'm home again
Although I'm enjoying the freedom of the road, I know deep down that I'll miss the excitement and energy of this adventure.
Stepping through the door with the night in store
Embracing the unknown and looking forward to whatever the night might bring.
Step into the sky in the star bright
Feeling like anything is possible and that the world is full of endless opportunities.
Feeling it's a brighter day
A sense of hope and optimism that comes with new experiences and perspectives.
You and I should ride the coast
Let's continue to seek adventure and enjoy the journey together.
And find ourselves just wading through tomorrow
Taking things one day at a time and not worrying about the future too much.
And you and I, when we're coming down
When the adventure ends and we have to return to everyday life.
We're only getting back
We're coming home, but have grown and learned from our experience.
And you know I feel no sorrow
Even though the adventure is over, I don't feel sad because I know it was a valuable experience.
When you find that things are getting wild
When life gets crazy and unpredictable.
Don't you want days like these?
Don't you want moments of joy and spontaneity to break up the monotony of everyday life?
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Damon Minchella, Oscar Lloyd Harrison, Simon Fowler, Stephen Cradock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Samantha_C1
My best mate sent me a voice clip of this track today, the memories π₯π₯ππΌππΌππΌππΌ
96, I was 22 loving life, own place no child, no responsibilities life was a constant party but we could walk in & out of jobs! No surveillance every move we made!!!
Loadsa mates, more love & a better generation.
Last of the old school β€οΈ
@davidmcareavey1783
Amen to that π€ππ
@silasmarner7586
Uh, don't worry, it's 2022 and my daughter still deals with 20 somethings where she works who "walk in and out of jobs" and where life is "a constant party".. hah hah!
@jayfarmer6409
Amen summed up perfectly π
@lotuseater7247
@@silasmarner7586 I usually hate the 'it was better in my day' comments, but to be honest 96 was the best year I've ever seen in the UK for being young.
@CameraShot3
kinda makes me sad as a gen z kid lol
@180GAVIN
They were and still are the BEST forgotten band of all time.
Simply magnificent
@fat4448
I wouldn't say forgotten .. but yes, simply magnificent.
@patrickbracken3363
After I Am Kloot!
@relaxbro7671
Pure nostalgia listening to this.. π