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.
Tales of Endurance
Supergrass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what is on my mind
Well don't look down cos it's far to fall
Oh yeah
Count the hours face the fear
It's all you need these days
We're past the post and through the door
We welcome commercial suicide
Kiss the love you leave behind
And let it bother you
Well you do what it takes to get what you can
Last night I thought about her
...Love and what I do
It's hanging over me
I'm sure to break your loving heart
I'm down and take a walk down a sugar coated sonified
I've been hanging around for hours
Staring at your holy ground
Ooooooh
I might've known that you'd be tearing up the photographs
Oooooh
At sight of all I've done been taken for higher ground
...China dolls and better times
This side of life...
You know this living hell solid gold coming for no one
The lyrics to Supergrass's song "Tales of Endurance" suggest a reflection on one's emotions, thoughts, and actions. The singer is grappling with what they have heard, what is on their mind, and how to confront fear. They caution the listener against looking down because the fall would be far. It seems that the singer is dealing with a relationship, and there is a sense of regret and pain in the lyrics. They mention commercial suicide, which could be a reference to making a poor decision that could harm oneself. The singer encourages the listener to kiss the love they leave behind, but also to do whatever it takes to get what they can.
Line by Line Meaning
Making sense of what I've heard
Trying to understand what I have heard from others
And what is on my mind
Also thinking of what is on my own mind
Well don't look down cos it's far to fall
Cautioning oneself not to be careless, as the consequences can be severe
Count the hours face the fear
Bracing oneself to confront one's apprehensions
It's all you need these days
Suggesting that all one needs nowadays is courage to overcome fear
We're past the post and through the door
Stating that the challenge has already been surmounted
We welcome commercial suicide
Expressing a willingness to take risks
Kiss the love you leave behind
Bid farewell to the love you've had
And let it bother you
Encouraging oneself to embrace the pain that comes with saying goodbye
Well you do what it takes to get what you can
Advocating doing whatever is necessary to attain one's goals
Last night I thought about her
Recalling thoughts of a former lover
...Love and what I do
Contemplating the interplay between love and one's actions in life
It's hanging over me
Indicating that the weight of one's past is still felt
I'm sure to break your loving heart
Predicting the pain that one's actions may cause others
I'm down and take a walk down a sugar coated sonified
Feeling despondent and intending to take a walk to find solace
I've been hanging around for hours
Idling away time for hours
Staring at your holy ground
Focused on a place or person held in high regard
I might've known that you'd be tearing up the photographs
Anticipating the destruction of cherished memories
At sight of all I've done been taken for higher ground
Reflecting on accomplishments that were supposed to propel one to greater heights
...China dolls and better times
Reminiscing about the past
This side of life...
Acknowledging the reality of life
You know this living hell solid gold coming for no one
Recognizing that success cannot be taken for granted and it requires considerable effort
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL GOFFEY, GARETH COOMBES, MICHAEL QUINN, ROBERT COOMBES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind