They received critical and popular acclaim internationally. They first came to notice in the UK when BBC radio DJ John Peel played "Birthday", later voted by his listeners as no.1 in the 1987 Festive Fifty, and no. 23 in the Millennium (All Time Chart). The band's music was characterized by psychedelic sound, whimsical yet heartfelt lyrics, and the imploring, girlish voice of Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who later went on to great success as a solo artist. The band's name was assumed by its fans to be an LSD usage reference; the drug had regained widespread popularity while the band was releasing music.
The Sugarcubes released their first album, Life’s Too Good, in April 1988. Inspired by the success of the album in Europe, their second album followed shortly after in October 1989. Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! took it’s name from the Kenneth Grahame novel Wind in the Willows. It was also released in an Icelandic version titled Illur Arfur. The second album wasn’t as well received by critics as their debut.
The third and final studio album by the band, Stick Around For Joy, was released in 1992, and featured the successful single Hit which reached No: 17 in the UK charts.
While not as successful as Björk's solo career would be, the band is still very highly regarded and was the most influential Icelandic group until the rise of Sigur Rós.
The Sugarcubes dissolved in 1992 as different members of the band had realised they all had different ambitions; instead of risking their friendship, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. They remain friends to this day and are all still involved in the management of Smekkleysa/Bad Taste (not to be confused with the Swedish label of the same name).
On November 17 2006, the band had a one-off reunion concert at Laugardalshöll sport arena in Reykjavík, Iceland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut single with all profits going to the non-profit Smekkleysa SM to promote Icelandic music. They were supported by fellow Icelandic groups múm and Rass. Despite this reunion, the group has expressed that it has no intention to play future shows or record new material.
Bandmembers:
* Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards)
* Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet)
* Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums)
* Þór Eldon (guitar)
* Bragi Ólafsson (bass)
* Margrét (Magga) Örnólfsdóttir (keyboards) - 1989+.
* Einar Melax (keyboards) - 1987-89
WATER
The Sugarcubes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait for me I have to go now
Into the big city
She pulls me firmly towards her
Wait for me underneath the water
Wait for me here
You'll be fine underneath the water
I'll be back early next summer
After all these years,
You said "want a drink?"
I love you
And you know I will be back
Hold your breath
And nestle into the ice
Wait for me underneath the water
Wait for me and count to ten
You'll look up and I will be there
Wait for me
The lake was frozen,
You took me for a walk over the ice,
I cracked
The ice cracked
I fell into the lake
I watched you through the eyes
Love into you
Wait for me underneath the water
Wait for me and sing along
"She's coming, coming, coming"
Wait for me
I watched you through the ice
I expected you to crawl for help
I smiled, you just stood there
I tried to kiss you through the ice,
You just walked away
The Sugarcubes's song "Water" provides a deep metaphor for love, separation and nostalgia. The lyrics are poetic and rich in meaning. The opening lines, "Wait for me underneath the water, Wait for me I have to go now, Into the big city, She pulls me firmly towards her," seem to suggest that the singer is in a long-distance relationship or is leaving for a prolonged period. The imagery of water here might represent the distance between the two lovers or the unknown future that lies ahead.
As the lyrics proceed, the singer assures his love that he will return soon, and she will find solace at the bottom of the lake, waiting for him. The lines, "You'll be fine underneath the water, I'll be back early next summer," suggest a hopefulness that despite the separation, they will be reunited. The nostalgia and longing to be close again are palpable in the lines, "We met again at the lake After all these years, You said 'want a drink?' I love you, And you know I will be back."
The twist in the story comes in the third verse where the singer falls through the ice, and his love watches helplessly through the frozen surface. Despite his attempts to reach out or kiss her goodbye, she walks away. The lyrics are open to interpretation and could mean that his love has moved on, or it could represent his realization that their separation is more permanent than he imagined. The Sugarcubes's song "Water" is a touching ode to long-distance love, nostalgia, and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait for me underneath the water
Wait for me in a place where it's hard to breathe
Wait for me I have to go now
Wait for me while I leave you and go to the big city
Into the big city
To a place full of opportunities and danger
She pulls me firmly towards her
A powerful force that drives me forward
You'll be fine underneath the water
You'll be safe in a place where nobody expects you to live
I'll be back early next summer
I'll come back when the weather is good and warm
We met again at the lake
We had a chance encounter at a familiar location
After all these years,
Despite the time that has passed
You said "want a drink?"
You offered me something to quench my thirst
I love you
The feelings of affection I have for you
And you know I will be back
Assurance given for a future reunion
Hold your breath
A warning to prepare for what's to come
And nestle into the ice
Make yourself comfortable in your frozen surroundings
Wait for me and count to ten
Wait patiently for a duration of time
You'll look up and I will be there
I'll return when you least expect it
The lake was frozen,
The water had turned into ice
You took me for a walk over the ice,
You led me across the frozen surface of the lake
I cracked
I stumbled and lost my balance
The ice cracked
The surface beneath us broke apart
I fell into the lake
I was submerged in the cold water
I watched you through the eyes
I witnessed your actions firsthand
Love into you
The subjective experience of love
Wait for me and sing along
Continue to wait and pass the time through song
"She's coming, coming, coming"
A chant to build anticipation
I watched you through the ice
A reminder of the present situation
I expected you to crawl for help
My assumptions about your behavior
I smiled, you just stood there
My emotional reaction versus your lack of action
I tried to kiss you through the ice,
My futile attempts at physical contact
You just walked away
Your reaction to my advances
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bj�rk Gudmundsdottir, Bragi Olafsson, Einar Benediktsson, Margret Oernolfsdottir, Sigtryggur Baldursson, Thor Eldon Jonsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind