In summer 1994 they released their first single Caught By The Fuzz which had Strange Ones on the B side, on a small local record label called Backbeat, run by Makating bass guitarist Dave Norland from his bedroom in a house in the Cowley Road area of Oxford. The song was successful and it didn't take much time when the Parlophone label signed them and few months later re-released Caught By The Fuzz again. In the spring of 1995 was released another single Mansize Rooster followed by Lenny right before they released debut album I Should Coco in May 1995. It was their only album that made an impact in the USA.
In 1997, they released their second album, In It For The Money which got them even more acclaim, but slightly darker sound confused many of their fans. Still, it was a success, both critically and financially.
The third album, released in 1999, Supergrass (or the X-Ray Album, as the fans like to call it because of the cover) was more of a continuation of In it for the money, and was not received as well as the former albums.
After the three-year-pause, Supergrass returned with Life On Other Planets (2002), which was again not succesful financially, but the critics loved it. It was also the first Supergrass album where Rob Coombes was named as the official member of the band.
After the best-selling 2004 greatest hits compilation Supergrass is 10, they released Road to Rouen, their fifth album in 2005, after some delays. It was well received but it's new direction was a surprise to many fans.
The band recorded their sixth studio album Diamond Hoo Ha between January and November 2007 in Berlin and New York. It was released in March 2008 and although criticised as formulaic, displayed strong song writing.
In 2010 they announced they would disband and played a handful of farewell shows in June. The unfinished 7th studio album Release the Drones remains unreleased.
In 2019, Supergrass reformed to play a series of gigs. However, the band does not plan on releasing new material.
St. Petersburg
Supergrass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can find my way around
Soon be here at the borderline I guess
Armageddon coming down
And here lies a pretty state again
It's time to make a move on
'Cause in three days I'll be out of here
Firelight, the light of love, burns
Turns to ashes in your hand
So to bed by the morning light I guess
I'm awake and understand
Set sail for St. Petersburg
Making use of my time
'Cause in three days I'll be out of here
And it's not a day too soon
Head out to a better life
I can get a job, settle down
I'm full of love, of a full of feeling
I can't stand the here and now
Leave town for pity's sake you know
It's time to make a move on
'Cause in three days I'll be out of here
And it's not a day too soon
Yeah, three days I'll be out of here
And it's not a day too soon
In the song "St. Petersburg" by Supergrass, the lyrics depict a sense of restlessness and desire for escape. The song begins with the singer contemplating their surroundings before the morning, suggesting that they are able to find their way around even in the dark. The reference to the Armageddon coming down adds to the feeling of unrest and perhaps a desire to escape from some sort of impending doom. The lyrics then move onto describing the current state the singer is living in, one that they find pretty but also recognize the need to move on from. The pre-chorus describes the fleeting nature of love - firelight, the light of love, turning to ashes in your hand. This could signify a relationship ending or a feeling of unfulfillment in their current situation.
The chorus is where the escape plan comes into play. The singer plans to Set sail for St. Petersburg, a completely different location from where they are now. They are determined to make use of their remaining time before leaving (in three days) to start a new life somewhere else. The second verse talks about the singer's readiness for a better life and their willingness to settle down and get a job. The line "I can't stand the here and now" emphasizes their burning desire to leave and their discontent with the current state of things. Finally, the chorus is repeated one last time, ending the song on a hopeful note.
Line by Line Meaning
Before the time of the morning sandman
Before I fall asleep and dream, in the wee hours of the night
I can find my way around
I am acquainted with my surroundings
Soon be here at the borderline I guess
I am approaching a critical point in my journey
Armageddon coming down
It feels like the world is ending
And here lies a pretty state again
I find myself in a beautiful place
It's time to make a move on
I need to take action
'Cause in three days I'll be out of here
I have a limited time left in this place
And it's not a day too soon
I am eager to leave
Firelight, the light of love, burns
Passion can be fleeting and destructive
Turns to ashes in your hand
Love can slip away quickly and leave nothing behind
So to bed by the morning light I guess
I will try to rest and start again tomorrow
I'm awake and understand
I am alert and aware of my situation
Set sail for St. Petersburg
I am embarking on a new adventure
Making use of my time
I am determined to make the most of my opportunities
Head out to a better life
I am leaving this place behind in search of a brighter future
I can get a job, settle down
I am capable of building a stable life for myself
I'm full of love, of a full of feeling
I have a lot of emotions and am ready to experience new things
I can't stand the here and now
I am discontent with my current situation
Leave town for pity's sake you know
It is time to leave this place behind for my own good
Yeah, three days I'll be out of here
My departure is imminent
And it's not a day too soon
I am eagerly anticipating my departure
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aaron Johnston, Didi Gutman, Sabina Sciubba
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-lg2ux6iq9m
St. Petersburg is a wonderful city! I like to walk on it in winter and summer! I like cycling along Nevsky Prospekt! Especially on summer evenings, when it is warm and a cool wind blows from the Gulf of Finland. I like living here!
@kennygr8ify
Such a RIDICULOUSLY UNDERRATED Band and I Love This Band!
@impalamusic1453
Need to return. They are one of the best bands of the 90s
@omega4chimp
Impala music 1990s.
@impalamusic1453
???
@user-fz6sg7eg7u
1890s
@jesse_cole
Return... so that you can keep calling them one of the "best bands of the 90s?"
Supergrass is one of the best bands ever... 90s, 2000s, or whenever... if they returned, they'd be the best band going right now. So show some respect, and quit talking about them as if they're some kind of 90s "nostalgia act."
@Zach-cp2oh
So true. So true
@AsAManPodcast77
I used to work for Rentway delivering furniture and this song would be on rotation on the TVs we had for sale for promotion. I used to get high and jam this after work thinking about my next moves in life away from that miserable job and town. Im so thankful for good music to help me with hard times
@cbennett196631
That’s such a lame story…you had to get high to actually enjoy this tune…not even a fan, are ya…