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.
Keep On Breathing
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The pleasure that he shows
I can't seem to hide from the sounds around me.
I wonder where she goes
Dressed up in those clothes
We just watch her drive away
A woman sees her friend's
She fills up the days while she waits for phone calls
A life in evidence
Is evidently lonely
We all need a tale to tell
Just another list of consequences of things that we do
Just another hit of happenings that we have to live through
In and out of all the reasons, and all the “whys” and “wherefores”
We just want to keep on breathing
My view is compromised
With undernourished eyes
They watch and they wait for an altercation
These boxes on the road
These overpriced abodes
Will somebody give them life?
We occupy a space
With barriers and fences
There's no line of sight into this protection
Forgive us all, a cheat
Is just another sentence
We all need a tale to tell
Just another list of consequences of things that we do
Just another hit of happenings that we have to live through
In and out of all the reasons, and all the “whys” and “wherefores”
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
We will watch and learn
We will watch you perform
Waiting behind the seat
Telling the tale
I wonder if he knows
How far his pleasure goes
It all comes apart at the stroke of midnight.
I wonder where she goes
Now she's in some clothes
We just hear her drive away
Just another list of consequences of things that we do
Just another hit of happenings that we have to live through
In and out of all the reasons, and all the “whys” and “wherefores”
We just want to keep on breathing
Life is just a list of consequences of things that we do
Just another hit of happenings that we have to live through
In and out of all the reasons, and all the “whys” and “wherefores”
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
We just want to keep on breathing
In the song "Keep On Breathing" by The Delgados, the lyrics describe a sense of alienation and disconnection in the world. The singer wonders about the pleasure and hidden motives of others around them, while also observing the loneliness and distractions of a friend who fills her days waiting for phone calls. This sense of isolation is emphasized by the presence of fences, barriers, and boxed-in spaces, which restrict the view of the outside world. Despite all of this, the singer acknowledges that life is a series of consequences that must be lived through, and expresses a desire to simply keep on breathing through it all.
The lyrics in the song offer a commentary on the complexities of modern life and the ways in which we navigate our relationships and experiences. The images of fences and barriers suggest a sense of protection and security, but also isolation and disconnection. The mention of boxes and overpriced abodes with empty spaces to fill hints at a sense of consumerism and materialism, and the characters in the song seem to struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder if he knows
The singer questions if someone is aware of the pleasure they bring to others
The pleasure that he shows
The pleasure that the person brings is clearly visible
I can't seem to hide from the sounds around me.
The singer is unable to ignore the noises in their environment
I wonder where she goes
The artist wonders where a female is headed
Dressed up in those clothes
The female is dressed nicely
We just watch her drive away
The group simply watches as the female leaves
A woman sees her friend's
A female observes her friend's behavior
Continuous distraction
Her friend's constant preoccupation with something is apparent
She fills up the days while she waits for phone calls
Her friend spends her time waiting for phone calls and trying to occupy herself in the meantime
A life in evidence
There is proof of a life being lived
Is evidently lonely
The evidence suggests that the person is lonely
We all need a tale to tell
Everyone needs a story to share
Just another list of consequences of things that we do
A list of results from actions taken
Just another hit of happenings that we have to live through
Another instance of events that must be experienced
In and out of all the reasons, and all the “whys” and “wherefores”
Through all the explanations and justifications
We just want to keep on breathing
The group simply wants to continue living
My view is compromised
The artist's perspective is not clear
With undernourished eyes
The person's eyes are not well-fed, meaning they lack visual stimulation
They watch and they wait for an altercation
The people are expectant of a confrontation
These boxes on the road
The cars on the road
These overpriced abodes
The expensive homes that people live in
Will somebody give them life?
The artist wonders if someone will bring energy to this dull environment
We occupy a space
People take up physical space
With barriers and fences
There are physical obstructions in place
There's no line of sight into this protection
The protective barriers make it difficult to see what's happening inside
Forgive us all, a cheat
Please forgive people for being dishonest
Is just another sentence
The punishment will be just another consequence
We will watch and learn
We will observe with intent to gain knowledge
We will watch you perform
The group watches someone do something impressive
Waiting behind the seat
The singer is waiting behind someone, possibly as a passenger in a car
Telling the tale
The singer intends to share the details of this experience
How far his pleasure goes
The impact of the person's pleasure reaches far and wide
It all comes apart at the stroke of midnight.
Things may fall apart suddenly and unexpectedly
Now she's in some clothes
The female has changed her outfit
Life is just a list of consequences of things that we do
Our lives are shaped by the repercussions of our actions
We just want to keep on breathing
The group simply wants to continue living
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind