Their level of commercial success was almost unprecedented by an indie act when their first album 'Reading Writing and Arithmetic' (Rough Trade, 1989) debuted in the British charts at number 4, (even cracking the US Top 40) with little publicity and almost a year after the legendary single and John Peel fave 'Can't Be Sure' peaked at number 45. This now seminal album also featured the single "Here's Where The Story Ends" (more recently covered by 'Tin Tin Out') and other classic indie pop tunes 'Skin & Bones', 'Hideous Towns' and 'I Kicked A Boy'.
A US tour and a (soon to become infamous) "break" preceded follow-up album 'Blind' (1992) for which sky-high critical expectations couldn't be met, though single 'Goodbye' fared well reaching number 27.
It was a long wait before third and most recent album 'Static and Silence' (Parlophone, 1997) was released, followed by a 3-date UK, and 14-date U.S tour. Single "Summertime" (their most successful hit to date on the UK charts) was taken from this album, and garnered airplay in most parts of the world, although the follow-up "Cry" didn't fare quite as well. Gavurin formed a friendship with the comedian David Baddiel when growing up in North London, which would lead to the Sundays providing the song "Another Flavour" (sans vocals) from Static and Silence as the theme tune to the Newman and Baddiel in Pieces TV series.
No new material has been released by The Sundays since Static and Silence (and its attendant singles) in 1997. Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin have settled down and are raising a family. Patrick Hannan has become a session drummer and occasional record producer. Bassist Paul Brindley, like Harriet and David, is no longer a part of the music industry.
In April 2014, Adam Pitluk, the editor of American Airlines' magazine American Way, tracked down and conducted an interview with Wheeler and Gavurin in which he put forward the idea of a reunion. The response to this was as follows - "First let’s see if the music we’re currently writing ever sees the light of day, and then we can get on to the enjoyable globe-trotting-meets-concert-planning stage."
There is also a Japanese independent rock/punk band named SUNDAYS. They started out in September 2007 and released their first mini-album on a major label in January 2013.
I Kicked a Boy
The Sundays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Think about the time I kicked a boy till he cried
Oh, I could've been wrong but I don't think I was
He was such a child
When I am alone, I remember so well
How merrily I tripped a boy so he fell
And I could've been wrong but I don't think I was
He was totally wild
And I've been wondering lately
Just who's gonna save me
Now I have a cold and no story to tell
And I'd marry you but I'm so unwell
And although I could've been wrong, well I don't think I was
He was totally wild
And I've been wondering lately
Just who's gonna save me
Yes you should?ve been wise
Oh hysterical child
Where?d you learn to do that?
The lyrics of The Sundays's song I Kicked a Boy appear to be about a person reflecting on a childhood memory of an incident in which they kicked a boy until he cried. The opening lines suggest that the memory is triggered by good weather, perhaps indicating that the incident took place during a sunny day. The singer of the song goes on to recount the incident in detail, recalling how they tripped the boy and kicked him until he fell and cried. The lyrics suggest that the boy was wild and that the singer could not have been wrong to have acted in such a way.
However, the tone of the song changes towards the end, where the singer appears to be suffering from a cold and feeling unwell. They reflect on the memory of the incident with a tinge of regret, wondering who will save them now. It is not clear what the singer needs to be saved from, but the sense of vulnerability and uncertainty is palpable. The final lines of the song make a reference to an "hysterical child," perhaps suggesting that the singer was once such a child and that the kicking incident was a manifestation of their own wildness.
Overall, the lyrics of I Kicked a Boy are rich in ambiguity and suggestiveness. On the surface, they appear to describe a brutal act of violence, but the nuances and emotional complexities of the singer's recollections suggest that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
When the weather's fine, when it's sunny outside
Recalling the time when the weather was good, and the sun was shining.
Think about the time I kicked a boy till he cried
Memories of kicking a boy so badly that he cried.
Oh, I could've been wrong but I don't think I was
Thoughts that she might have been too harsh on the boy, but she thinks otherwise.
He was such a child
The boy was a kid.
When I am alone, I remember so well
Thinking about kicking the boy whenever she is alone.
How merrily I tripped a boy so he fell
Tripping the boy in joy, so he fell.
And I could've been wrong but I don't think I was
Although she feels she might be wrong, she thinks she was right.
He was totally wild
The boy's behavior was quite bad.
And I've been wondering lately
Recently, she has been thinking.
Just who's gonna save me
She wonders who will come to save her at this point.
Now I have a cold and no story to tell
Currently, she is sick and has no interesting story to share.
And I'd marry you but I'm so unwell
She would marry someone, but she is not feeling well.
Yes you should?ve been wise
She thinks that the person she is talking to should have been wiser.
Oh hysterical child
Calling someone 'hysterical child.'
Where?d you learn to do that?
Asking where did that person learn to do that.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind