In July of 1996, under Roadshow Music, the duo released their debut single I Want You. The single was a hit in Australia and became the year's highest-selling by an Australian artist. The success of the single garnered much interest from many U.S. record labels and in September, Columbia Records won the bidding war to sign the band. In November a second single, To The Moon And Back, was released and was another chart hit—reaching No. 1 in January of the following year.
"I Want You" was released in the United States in February 1997, where it peaked at No. 4 and quickly achieved gold status. Truly Madly Deeply, the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached No. 1 just before "I Want You" was released across Europe in April. The duo’s debut album, Savage Garden, entered the Australian charts at No. 1 in March and remained at that peak for 17 weeks—it was released around the world two weeks later. At the end of May, “To The Moon And Back” became the most played song on U.S. radio.
In June 1997, a fourth single, Break Me, Shake Me was released in Australia as the band's debut album sat at No. 3 on the U.S. charts and was certified gold by the ARIA. By the end of August, the album was seven-times platinum in Australia, triple-platinum in Canada, and double-platinum in New Zealand and Singapore. At the end of August, Savage Garden received a record 13 ARIA awards nominations. The 10 ARIAs won by them in September was also a record, and one that still stands today. Riding this massive wave of popularity was the release of their fifth Australian single, Universe. By November that year, "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third U.S. release, shooting up the charts to blow Elton John’s "Candle In The Wind 1997" out of its 14-week run at the number-one spot. By the end of 1997, Darren and Daniel had become international stars.
In January 1998, All Around Me, a sixth single, was released just as the band kicked off their worldwide tour in Cairns, Australia. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on U.S. radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
The Animal Song (featured in the Disney film The Other Sister), the first single from the follow-up album Affirmation was released in February 1999 and became a hit in Australia and the US. That September saw the release of a new single previewing their forthcoming album; the smooth, romantic ballad, I Knew I Loved You.
The duo's second album, Affirmation, was released in November 1999 globally. It took a month for it to go platinum in the US, largely due to the success of the single "I Knew I Loved You," which hit #1 on the charts, eventually going platinum and becoming the most-played single on US radio for the year.
Affirmation saw a new turn for Savage Garden; their looks had more similarities to that of mainstream pop and some of their new songs possessed a more adult contemporary sound.
The group finished out the year by winning two Billboard Music Awards: Adult Contemporary Single of the Year and Hot 100 Singles Airplay of the Year.
In February 2000, as Crash and Burn became the third single from their second album, 1997's "Truly Madly Deeply" was amazingly still on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart, breaking the record for length of time of any single on that chart. It would finally drop off the chart after 123 weeks.
In June, Darren Hayes performed O Sole Mio at Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti's annual charitable benefit concert Pavarotti and Friends. Savage Garden's great success was reflected once again at the Billboard Music Awards, where they won Best Adult Contemporary Video and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Song of the Year, for "I Knew I Loved You", and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year. "I Knew I Loved You" stayed on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart for 124 weeks – overtaking the duo's own record previously set by "Truly Madly Deeply".
In October 2001, the band split and Darren Hayes went on to enjoy further success with albums Spin (2002), The Tension And The Spark (2004) and This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007).
As of 2005, the band’s debut album had been certified 12-times platinum in Australia, six-times platinum in the United States, and double-platinum in the United Kingdom.
UNIVERSE
Savage Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Imagine our clothes are on the floor
Feel my caress so soft and gentle
So delicate you cry for more
But you know baby
You know baby does it right
And you know baby does it right
You gotta let me know
So you can be free baby
You wanted it so much
And now that it's over
You don't know what you want
Put time in a capsule
Two minds consensual
Entwined to perfection
If we could
Cuddle up close
Lay on my chest now
Listen my heart beats coming down
If you get tired, you close your eyes now
When you wake up I won't be found
Cause I know baby
I know you're the nervous kind
With so much going on in your mind
Universe inside of your heart
You gotta let me know
So you can be free baby
You wanted it so much,
And now that it's over
You don't know what you want
But let me tell you that, this time,
I'm gonna make you mine
(I won't let you go)
Cause I know, this time
I'm gonna make sure I look out for me
Cause you know baby
Well you know baby does it right
And you know baby does it right
You will only end up lost in loneliness
And wake up with the words already
On your lips
So I'll let you go, baby, oh baby
So I'll let you go
Universe inside of your heart
You gotta let me know
So you can be free baby
You wanted it so much,
And now that it's over
You don't know what you want
The lyrics of Universe by Savage Garden evoke the sexual tension between two individuals who are physically attracted to each other. The singer wants to take the person he desires as he finds them, imagining both of them naked and sharing a tender physical moment. The singer acknowledges the other person's nervousness, which might imply a lack of confidence in the relationship. He expresses the need to know what the other person truly wants or desires, so he can set them free. He also recognizes that he has to look out for himself, making sure that he does not get lost or left alone.
The chorus of the song talks about the universe inside of the other person's heart, and the singer's desire to explore it. The singer wants to know what the other person wants so that they can be free, but now that their brief encounter is over, the other person seems to be confused about what they want. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing the importance of communication and honesty within a relationship, especially when it comes to intimacy.
Overall, the lyrics of Universe by Savage Garden capture the complexity and uncertainty of relationships, especially when it comes to sexuality and intimacy. It highlights the importance of honesty, communication, and mutual consent in any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'd like to take you as I find you
I want to accept you just as you are
Imagine our clothes are on the floor
Picture us in an intimate setting
Feel my caress so soft and gentle
Experience my tender touch
So delicate you cry for more
My touch is so light that it brings you to tears
But you know baby
You already know
You know baby does it right
You know I'm doing everything correctly
Universe inside of your heart
You have a vast and complex internal world
You gotta let me know
You need to communicate with me
So you can be free baby
So you can feel liberated
You wanted it so much
You desired this deeply
And now that it's over
Now that it's ended
You don't know what you want
You're unsure of what you desire
Put time in a capsule
Preserve a moment forever
Two minds consensual
Two minds in agreement
Entwined to perfection
Connected in a flawless way
If we could
If it were possible
Cuddle up close
Snuggle near to me
Lay on my chest now
Rest your head on my torso
Listen my heart beats coming down
Hear the rhythm of my heartbeat slowing
If you get tired, you close your eyes now
If you become fatigued, rest your eyes
When you wake up I won't be found
When you awaken, I'll be gone
Cause I know baby
Because I'm aware
I know you're the nervous kind
I know you're prone to anxiety
With so much going on in your mind
With so many thoughts occupying your thoughts
But let me tell you that, this time,
But I want you to know that, this time,
I'm gonna make you mine
I'm going to claim you as mine
(I won't let you go)
(I'll hold onto you)
Cause I know, this time
Because I'm certain, this time
I'm gonna make sure I look out for me
I'll prioritize my own needs
You will only end up lost in loneliness
You'll be trapped in solitude
And wake up with the words already
And you'll awaken with the phrases already
On your lips
On your tongue
So I'll let you go, baby, oh baby
So I'll release you, my dear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL JONES, DARREN HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind