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.
The Drowning Years
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first time we met I was sure she was steaming
This is my life, this is my life
What a life
Life isn't precious and life isn't sacred
Sometimes release only comes when you meet death
A night of reprieve we were wrecked when we slept in the park
When we woke in the morning you cried could I squeeze out the dark
Destroy the noises that make all the voices
Get them out of my head
Bring on the screaming and I'll take your demons now that I'm all already dead
Days of release when she almost felt better
Gradually faded and words couldn't get her
Where is the light, where is the light, get the light
Fearless and clear all her doubts had been cast off
Last night alive is a nightmare I'm part of
Dreams are a lie, dreams are a lie
So am I
If that's all there is then I might as well get in the fire
Destroy the noises that make all the voices
Get them out of my head
Bring on the screaming and I'll take your demons now that I'm already dead
Oh how the rights of the righteous kept coming
Shining before like the day
I stand before them and cried that you're dying your way
I'm still not sure if the right and the wrong side is one
The Delgados’ song The Drowning Years is a haunting and introspective examination of a woman struggling with mental illness and the demons that come with it. The song is a commentary on the fragility of life and the sense of hopelessness that can come with the feeling of being consumed by one’s own internal struggles. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a woman who is constantly battling with her own personal demons, and the singer is powerless to help her.
The first time they met, the singer was struck by the intensity of the woman's struggles. Despite the pain and suffering she endures, the woman seems to be resigned to her fate. She understands that life is not sacred, and that at times, the only release is through death. The woman and the singer share a moment of connection, but even in that moment of joy, it is tinged with sadness as they both know it is fleeting.
The song ends with a sense of ambiguity, as the singer is not sure which side is right or wrong, suggesting that there are no easy answers when it comes to mental illness. Overall, the song offers a poignant and moving exploration of mental illness, and the toll it can take on those who suffer from it.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the life of a woman with demons
Describing the experience of a woman struggling with inner demons
The first time we met I was sure she was steaming
Meeting this woman for the first time, sensing that she was troubled
This is my life, this is my life
Acknowledging the struggles of the singer's own life
What a life
Reflecting on the difficulties of life
Life isn't precious and life isn't sacred
Viewing life as not inherently valuable or meaningful
Sometimes release only comes when you meet death
Recognizing that some may only find relief from their struggles through death
A night of reprieve we were wrecked when we slept in the park
Finding temporary solace, but feeling the weight of the struggles the next day
When we woke in the morning you cried could I squeeze out the dark
Expressing a desire to overcome the challenges and turmoil
Destroy the noises that make all the voices
Wanting to silence the inner turmoil and self-doubt
Get them out of my head
Desiring to rid oneself of negative thoughts and feelings
Bring on the screaming and I'll take your demons now that I'm all already dead
Offering to help others with their struggles, and perhaps feeling that one's own life is already over
Days of release when she almost felt better
Feeling moments of relief and hope for the future
Gradually faded and words couldn't get her
Slipping back into old patterns of struggle and finding that words can't help
Where is the light, where is the light, get the light
Seeking hope and positivity
Fearless and clear all her doubts had been cast off
Feeling free from doubt and anxiety, if only for a moment
Last night alive is a nightmare I'm part of
Reflecting on difficult times and feeling like a part of the nightmare
Dreams are a lie, dreams are a lie
Questioning the validity and usefulness of hopes and dreams
So am I
Feeling hopeless and lost
If that's all there is then I might as well get in the fire
Feeling like life has little meaning or purpose, and considering giving up completely
Oh how the rights of the righteous kept coming
Feeling weighed down by the expectations and beliefs of others
Shining before like the day
Seeing others in a positive light, perhaps despite one's own struggles
I stand before them and cried that you're dying your way
Feeling judged and criticized for one's choices and struggles
I'm still not sure if the right and the wrong side is one
Questioning the existence of right and wrong, or doubting one's ability to choose the right path
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HENDERSON, POLLOCK, SAVAGE, WOODWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind