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.
Get Action!
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But write it, now I've wrote it, and the days are growing longer
No hint of allegation, or trouble with notations
And everyone's been mangling my name
I took time to work it out at seats of higher learning
But I never understood a single thing that they said to me
Except, "Son, you know you think you've got a chance but let me tell you,
Friend, don't you know, I've got thoughts that I'm scared of
Guidance for me, is a thing to beware of
Get it on, bag a girl
Every single person who has told you that you couldn't
Lives in fear that you'll achieve the things in life they think you shouldn't
A parallel digression, unswerving in direction
And that was why they set my hair on fire
You worked out the best of it and I worked out the rest of it
And finally solutions fell around us like an autumn
We were wrong and we were right a bit
We laughed and then we cried a bit
I'll tell you now, I'm not been born to fail
Friend, don't you know, I've got these eyes from crying
You are depraved, I salute you for trying
When I'm gone, you take my song
No one ever said to me that I should write a symphony
But write it, now I've wrote it, and the days are growing longer
No hint of allegation, or trouble with notations
And everyone's been laying off my name
Friend, don't you know, I've got thoughts that I'm scared of
Guidance for me, is a thing to beware of
Friend, don't you know, I've got these eyes from crying
You are depraved, and I love you for trying
When I'm wrong, bring it on
The Delgados's song "Get Action!" is an inspiring and insightful track about overcoming obstacles and following one's dreams. The lyrics are introspective and reveal the struggles that the songwriter experienced in pursuing his passion for music. The opening line, "No one ever said to me that I should write a symphony, but write it, now I've wrote it, and the days are growing longer," is a testament to the perseverance and determination required to achieve one's goals.
The first verse continues with the songwriter discussing how he struggled to understand the concepts being taught at "seats of higher learning." Despite this, he refused to give up, knowing that he was meant to do something great. The refrain of "Friend, don't you know, I've got thoughts that I'm scared of, guidance for me is a thing to beware of," speaks to the fear and doubt that can arise when following one's dreams, and how it's important to trust oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
No one ever said to me that I should write a symphony
Nobody suggested that I should create a symphony
But write it, now I've wrote it, and the days are growing longer
But I wrote it anyway, and now time seems to be passing by slower
No hint of allegation, or trouble with notations
There were no accusations or difficulties with the musical notations
And everyone's been mangling my name
But everyone has been mispronouncing my name
I took time to work it out at seats of higher learning
I spent time studying at prestigious institutions
But I never understood a single thing that they said to me
But I didn't comprehend anything they taught me
Except, "Son, you know you think you've got a chance but let me tell you,
We've worked her out and you've come here to fail"
Except for when they said, 'You may believe you can succeed, but we know better and you'll fail.'
Friend, don't you know, I've got thoughts that I'm scared of
Friend, don't you realize that I have fears and doubts?
Guidance for me, is a thing to beware of
I'm cautious about receiving guidance or advice from others
Get it on, bag a girl
Go for it and seduce a girl
Every single person who has told you that you couldn't
Lives in fear that you'll achieve the things in life they think you shouldn't
Everyone who's said you couldn't do something is afraid you'll go above and beyond their expectations
A parallel digression, unswerving in direction
A similar diversion, remaining on course
And that was why they set my hair on fire
That's why they intentionally harmed me
You worked out the best of it and I worked out the rest of it
You figured out the majority of it and I finished the last bit
And finally solutions fell around us like an autumn
Eventually, solutions came to us as easily as the leaves fall in autumn
We were wrong and we were right a bit
We were both right and wrong in some ways
We laughed and then we cried a bit
We experienced moments of joy and sadness
I'll tell you now, I'm not been born to fail
I can assure you that I wasn't born to fail
Friend, don't you know, I've got these eyes from crying
Friend, haven't you seen that I've been crying?
You are depraved, I salute you for trying
You're a degenerate, but I respect your efforts
When I'm gone, you take my song
When I'm no longer around, you can have my music
No hint of allegation, or trouble with notations
There were no accusations or difficulties with the musical notations
And everyone's been laying off my name
And now people have stopped using my name incorrectly
Friend, don't you know, I've got thoughts that I'm scared of
Friend, don't you realize that I have fears and doubts?
Guidance for me, is a thing to beware of
I'm cautious about receiving guidance or advice from others
Friend, don't you know, I've got these eyes from crying
Friend, haven't you seen that I've been crying?
You are depraved, and I love you for trying
You're a degenerate, but I still appreciate your efforts
When I'm wrong, bring it on
I encourage you to challenge me when I make mistakes
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lilly Herrington
''You worked out the best of it and I worked out the rest of it And finally solutions fell around us like an autumn We were wrong and we were right a bit We laughed and then we cried a bit I'll tell you now, I'm not been born to fail'' Best part. Thanks for share.
MarkWalkerMusic
Love this song. Too bad they never did a video for it. (I'm guessing that's the case.)
Moon Shadow
You very welcome ;D Yeah! That´s the best part. This is one of my favorite songs of The Delgados...
Moon Shadow
@MarkWalkerMusic This song is beautiful. As you say is a shame they never did the vid...
Rainy Jane
I don't think that's the best part, because even though it was probably written genuinely, it can come off like a trite cliche for people who haven't gone through the experience of really failing in life. I like the part about 'every single person who had told you that you couldn't lived in fear that you'll achieve the things in life they think you shouldn't,' but even that's not true (ex., very hard to tell a patient that they probably can't get better).
06hatter
friend don't you know, i've got thoughts that i'm scared of