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.
Pull The Wires From The Wall
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll keep my curtains closed.
If you're feeling fond of feeling wronged,
Fully clothed.
For a second time you're on my mind,
Planted on this still.
You forget I do not pay in kind,
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try.
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
Safe in knowledge, safe in college,
I know all there is to know.
To have never stepped outside this ring,
Fools they flow.
For the self-assured I have no cure,
I only wish I was.
As my entertaining thoughts grow fewer,
Stills my cause.
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For the accent, for the day, (don't walk just swim)
For the incidents they'll happen and they'll happen anyway, (it's gonna pass)
When you leave here, leave this way (one last request)
You are far enough to be impressed,
But not so far to be depressed.
Drink your souvenirs and go your way.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
In "Pull the Wires from the Wall," The Delgados sing about the internal struggles of feeling conflicted and misunderstood. The song starts with a dark and eerie intro, setting a mysterious tone for the rest of the song. The first verse talks about someone creeping around their house at dawn, suggesting that they might be paranoid or worried about something. The singer wants to keep their curtains closed, possibly to hide from the outside world. The next line refers to someone who feels wronged but is emotionally guarded and dressed in clothes that show little skin, signifying their reluctance to be vulnerable.
The second verse implies that someone else is on the singer's mind, despite them trying to forget about them. They acknowledge that they may not receive kindness in return, yet they still have feelings for this person. The next few lines speak of the singer's struggles with being self-assured and confident. They long to be more carefree, but they are stuck in their own head, causing their thoughts to become stagnant. The chorus repeats that the singer falls into the right lines, hinting that they are still caught up in their own thoughts and are struggling to move forward.
The bridge suggests that the singer is giving advice to someone who is leaving, encouraging them to be impressed with what they have accomplished but not depressed by how much further they have to go. They suggest drinking souvenirs to reminisce about old times before moving on.
Overall, the song touches on themes of internal struggles, vulnerability, and the fear of falling at the wrong times. The Delgados portray these emotions through cryptic lyrics and an eerie melody that emphasizes the song's themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Creeping 'round my house at dawn, I'll keep my curtains closed.
I'm cautious and private, avoiding any unwanted attention.
If you're feeling fond of feeling wronged, Fully clothed.
If you enjoy feeling like a victim, keep your clothes on and act appropriately.
For a second time you're on my mind, Planted on this still.
You keep coming back to my thoughts, disturbing my peace.
You forget I do not pay in kind, Kind's not there.
You expect me to reciprocate, but kindness is not something I possess.
For the eyes to see through All that I do.
If you observe me closely, you'll find there's no hidden agenda.
For instance, I don't have to try. I'm falling over all the right lines.
I don't need to put in much effort, things just seem to work out right for me.
We only have to leave this last, Resist all falling at the wrong times.
We just need to overcome this final obstacle and resist the urge to fail at the worst possible moment.
Safe in knowledge, safe in college, I know all there is to know.
I'm secure in my academic achievements and consider myself an expert in all things.
To have never stepped outside this ring, Fools they flow.
Those who haven't experienced anything beyond their comfort zone are foolish.
For the self-assured I have no cure, I only wish I was.
I can't help the overly confident, I only envy their self-assurance.
As my entertaining thoughts grow fewer, Stills my cause.
As my interesting ideas dwindle, my motivation wanes.
For the accent, for the day, (don't walk just swim) For the incidents they'll happen and they'll happen anyway, (it's gonna pass) When you leave here, leave this way (one last request) You are far enough to be impressed, But not so far to be depressed. Drink your souvenirs and go your way.
When you leave, remember to enjoy the moment, let things happen naturally, appreciate the journey but don't dwell on it, and take your memories with you to enjoy later.
For instance, I don't have to try, I'm falling over all the right lines. We only have to leave this last, Resist all falling at the wrong times.
Once again, I don't have to exert myself too much, things seem to be going my way. We just need to push through this last obstacle and avoid failure at the worst time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@reneperez2126
Creeping 'round my house at dawn,
I'll keep my curtains closed.
If you're feeling fond of feeling wronged,
Fully clothed.
For a second time you're on my mind,
Planted on this still.
You forget I do not pay in kind,
Kind's not there.
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try.
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
Safe in knowledge, safe in college,
I know all there is to know.
To have never stepped outside this ring,
Fools they flow.
For the self-assured I have no cure,
I only wish I was.
As my entertaining thoughts grow fewer,
Stills my cause.
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For the accent, for the day, (don't walk just swim)
For the incidents they'll happen and they'll happen anyway, (it's gonna pass)
When you leave here, leave this way (one last request)
You are far enough to be impressed,
But not so far to be depressed.
Drink your souvenirs and go your way.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
@stellasvartur4547
This song aged incredibly well. YouTube is full of people calling this and that band underrated, but with the Delgados, I really think they should have deserved a bit more acclaim. I still listen to their first two albums (and the Peel Sessions).
@harrymay2528
'Peloton' should have been a huge album - great band. Saw live a fair few times in the 90s when I still lived in the UK. Each gig was excellent and very professional. Very much missed.
@InFeto
Essa canção é libertadora. Faz todas as dores explodirem
@Kevin6059
Still fantastic after all these years. I'll never forget seeing them (3 times) in Chicago - especially the gig at Metro when the brought the string section. The band was fantastic and so was the sound - just freaking gorgeous, and they got one of the best reviews I've ever seen by our persnickity music column writer - I cut it out and I still have it. The show was in April but we had a winter storm warning, so attendance was not what it should be. I booked a hotel downtown because nothing was going to stop me from seeing them. So worth it.
@pollyethylene
I love this song.. great lyrics, one of Emma's best I think
@davidhenderson2501
Love this tune!! Takes me back.
@SomeSunshineOutside
Oh my god! So incredibly underrated! OH MY GOOOOD!
@flansens
Love this song, especially the lyrics. Will you allow me to wax philosophical and ask what folks think is the meaning/significance of the song's title? I'd really be interested in some serious interpretations. Thanks!
@reneperez2126
Creeping 'round my house at dawn,
I'll keep my curtains closed.
If you're feeling fond of feeling wronged,
Fully clothed.
For a second time you're on my mind,
Planted on this still.
You forget I do not pay in kind,
Kind's not there.
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try.
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
Safe in knowledge, safe in college,
I know all there is to know.
To have never stepped outside this ring,
Fools they flow.
For the self-assured I have no cure,
I only wish I was.
As my entertaining thoughts grow fewer,
Stills my cause.
For the eyes to see through
All that I do.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For the accent, for the day, (don't walk just swim)
For the incidents they'll happen and they'll happen anyway, (it's gonna pass)
When you leave here, leave this way (one last request)
You are far enough to be impressed,
But not so far to be depressed.
Drink your souvenirs and go your way.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
For instance, I don't have to try,
I'm falling over all the right lines.
We only have to leave this last,
Resist all falling at the wrong times.
@zebedee37
Song is pretty good - the car is excellent!