The band continue to turn out promising independent artists under their cult record label Chemikal Underground.
Their first commercial release came with the inclusion of their track "Liquidation Girl" on the compilation album Skookum Chief Powered Teenage Zit Rock Angst from Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Neglecting to go the traditional route of signing to a record label, the band instead started their own, Chemikal Underground, with which to release not only their records but also those of other local bands. Chemikal Underground's first release was naturally The Delgados first single Monica Webster / Brand New Car. Despite being greatly overshadowed by the Blur/Oasis race, the single caught the attention of veteran BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel and the band quickly became one of his favourites, going on to play more than ten sessions for his show.
The cost of Chemikal Underground's second release, the single Disco Nation 45 by Bis, left the cash-strapped label unable to afford another release by The Delgados, so their next release Lazarwalker came from the London based Radar Records. Tempted by Radar to a five album deal, the band declined, instead poaching their A&R contact, Graeme Beattie, for work at Chemikal Underground.
Another single, Cinecentre followed in early 1996 as the band juggled work at the label (made all the more hectic with Bis' appearance on Top of the Pops) with several tours, and recording their debut album. The band released two more singles, this time taken from their album Domestiques released on October 28, 1996. Both singles and the album were critically lauded, with the song "Under Canvas, Under Wraps" being voted number three in John Peel's Festive Fifty.
The band released their second album in 1998. Peloton - also a cycling reference - which saw the band begin to broaden their musical palette. Including a wider range of styles and more complex arrangements the record proved a critical success. It did not sell in huge numbers, however, though the single Pull the Wires From the Wall gave the Delgados their first UK chart hit, reaching number 69. The band's close relationship with John Peel continued, with Pull the Wires From the Wall voted to number one in the Festive Fifty (it would also make the all time chart made in 2000) and other entries at 9 and 38.
The Delgados' evolution continued with The Great Eastern in 2000. The record, produced by Dave Fridmann, was heavily orchestrated and contained shifting time signatures. Again, the record was lauded by the critics but failed to significantly expand the band's following. The first single, American Trilogy, reached number 61 in the UK charts. The record was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and four of its songs reached the Festive Fifty, two in the top ten.
This pattern was extended for their fourth album, Hate, which was released on Mantra rather than the band's own Chemikal Underground label. The album's epic songs were popular among critics and festive fifty voters but a wider public still proved elusive. The song The Light Before We Land was used as the opening music for the anime Gunslinger Girl, bringing the band to a new audience.
The band returned to their own label for 2004's 'Universal Audio' - which marked something of a move away from the orchestrated sounds of its two predecessors, towards a simpler, poppier approach.
The band announced they were disbanding in April 2005 due to the departure of bass player Stewart Henderson who found it difficult "to pour so much of my energy and time into something that never quite seemed to get the attention or respect I felt it deserved". The four friends will continue to run Chemikal Underground together. Songwriters Emma Pollock and Alun Woodward are pursuing individual projects, while drummer Paul Savage will continue production duties at the band's Chem19 Studios in Hamilton and in a new studio.
The members recently announced that they've secured the rights for their BBC session performances. A double-disc containing 29 tracks was released on June 12th 2006 in Europe. A release in the USA is expected before the end of 2006.
In June 2022, the band announced that they were reforming.
Come Undone
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far enough
Far enough is here
Homeward bound
Pieces found
Rest is all you need
Saw a girl
She was looking round for someone else
She was hiding from everything
Even scared of her own reflection
This is how it feels to drown
This is how we come undone
When you just can't remember
How you came by the memories that you have
These are days that go on too long
These are days that you really don't want to last
This is how it feels to drown
This is how we come undone
Take me back
The sky and the earth
Just relax
For what it is worth
I love you, dear
I will hold you near
Why am I not questioning?
Why am I not running from all I know?
All I know is forgotten now
I think my circle is about to close
This is how it feels to drown
This is how we come undone
Take me back
The sky and the earth
Just relax
For what it is worth
I love you, dear
I will hold you near
The Delgados' song "Come Undone" is a melancholic portrayal of someone feeling lost and drowning in their own thoughts. The lyrics begin with someone saying "far enough," implying that they've gone as far as they can go, and they're homeward bound. They've found enough pieces of themselves to move forward, and now all they need is rest. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is slowly losing themselves, hiding from everything and even scared of their own reflection. The chorus sings, "This is how it feels to drown/ This is how we come undone," highlighting the overwhelming sense of feeling lost and drowning in one's own thoughts.
The second verse shifts to a different perspective, describing how someone is struggling to remember how they acquired their memories. The days seem to drag on without end, and they don't want them to last. The lyrics again emphasize the feeling of drowning and coming undone. The bridge interjects with someone begging to be taken back to a simpler time and professing their love for someone. The song ends with the sense that someone's life may be coming full circle, and they're no longer questioning what they know.
Overall, the song "Come Undone" is a moving representation of the feeling of being lost and drowning in one's own thoughts. It captures the idea of feeling adrift and unsure of oneself. The lyrics are poetic and haunting, imbuing the song with a sense of longing and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
So she said
The song begins with a reference to someone who has spoken.
Far enough
The singer refers to a distance or measure that is sufficient.
Far enough is here
The singer is saying that they have reached sufficient distance to move forward.
Homeward bound
The artist is on their way home.
Pieces found
The artist has found what they need, perhaps on their journey home.
Rest is all you need
The singer is saying that rest is all you need once you have found what you were looking for.
Saw a girl
The singer, who may or may not be the same person from the beginning of the song, describes seeing a girl.
She was taking a walk
The girl is out for a walk, which may have some significance.
She was looking round for someone else
The girl appears to be searching for someone, suggesting that she is lonely or lost.
She was hiding from everything
The girl appears to be avoiding the world and the people in it.
Even scared of her own reflection
The girl is so lost and scared that she is afraid of what she sees in the mirror.
This is how it feels to drown
The artist is drawing a metaphorical comparison between feeling lost and drowning.
This is how we come undone
When we feel lost, we begin to come apart.
When you just can't remember
The singer addresses the listener, describing a state of confusion or forgetfulness.
How you came by the memories that you have
The singer is asking how the listener acquired their memories, suggesting a possible sense of detachment from the past.
These are days that go on too long
The artist is saying that some days seem to last forever.
These are days that you really don't want to last
The artist is repeating the idea that some days are too difficult to endure.
Take me back
The singer is asking to return to a previous state or moment.
The sky and the earth
The singer mentions elements of nature, which could represent simplicity or purity.
Just relax
The artist is encouraging relaxation, perhaps in response to stress or anxiety.
For what it is worth
The artist is acknowledging that there may be little value to what they are saying or doing, but they still want to do it.
I love you, dear
The artist expresses love or affection.
I will hold you near
The singer desires physical closeness, suggesting a sense of vulnerability or longing.
Why am I not questioning?
The artist is questioning why they are not asking more questions.
Why am I not running from all I know?
The singer is questioning why they are not running away from everything they know, suggesting a need for change or escape.
All I know is forgotten now
The singer now feels that they have forgotten everything they once knew.
I think my circle is about to close
The singer is concluding the song by suggesting a sense of finality, as if their journey or struggle is reaching its end.
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sickley1
They were a small indie rock band from Scotland.. Considering that, they actually got fairly famous! Peel featured them on his BBC radio show something like 15 times! They also had hit pretty high on UK charts. And their songs have been used as an opening titles song for a number of shows Considering where they started from they got pretty famous! Had they not broken up after Universal Audio they probably would have gotten even more famous :)
Fausto Johann
Esta canción es realmente perfecta de principio a fin
Alex Matamala
Notable aporte compadre, echo de menos a esa banda....
David Harris
Awesome song - and an awesome video too...
Naxych
Sweet song, thnx for the upload :)) ♠♦
gunslingergirlfan
Me gusta, pero, no hablo espanol mucho. Hablo Inglesa, sorry I like how the video start with the raindrop matching each beats. This is very impressive! I'm a little jealous of your talent.
Johana Parraguez
Me gusta tu video!!
Lalocabron100
Nice!!!
Emiliano Ortega-Guerrero
rock and roll yeah