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.
My Finest Hour
The Sundays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My clothes, they show me up
I never knew this before
The finest hour that I've ever known
Was finding a pound on the Underground
When my words came stumbling out
Then I went tumbling out
I've never been hit before
Was finding a pound on the Underground
And I keep hoping you are the same as me
And I'll send you letters and come to your house for tea
We are who we are, what do the others know
But poetry is not for me, so show me the way to go (home)
When the words came stumbling out of my mouth
And I went tumbling out (here, no no, no no)
But I keep hoping you are the same as me
And I'll send you letters and come to your house for tea
We are who we are, what do the others know
But poetry is not for me, so show me the way to go
Oh, I'm going home
But I'll keep hoping you are the only one
Yes, and I'll send you letters, oh, wouldn't it be such fun
Oh, we are who we are, whatever the others say
But poetry is not for me, as much as I'd like to stay
Oh, I just want to go home
You're, you're, you're too young
Should've been, you, you're, you're too young
It should've been, you too, you're too, you're too young
It should've been, you, you, you're too young
You should've been safe here
Bribed the judge and then sat down
Oh, you're, you're, you're too young
The Sundays’ song “My Finest Hour” is a reflective and contemplative tune that conveys a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. The opening lines of the song express the theme of being exposed and showing one’s true self to the world, without the cover of pretense or falsehood. The singer of the song seems to be experiencing a moment of self-discovery, becoming aware of aspects of her true nature she was not aware of before. This is evidenced by lines such as “My clothes, they show me up,” which implies that her clothes reveal more about her personality than she previously realized.
The chorus of the song is an expression of the singer’s revelation about the finest moment of her life. She recalls the experience of finding a pound on the underground as the most significant achievement of her existence up to this point. It is a simple moment of unexpected luck that brings her joy and satisfaction. This suggests that the singer finds value in small, everyday joys rather than in grand aspirations or accomplishments.
The lyrics also incorporate a sense of longing and hopefulness, particularly in the lines “And I keep hoping you are the same as me / And I'll send you letters and come to your house for tea.” The singer seems to have an idealized vision of a person and relationship she has yet to encounter. She yearns for someone who shares her values and experiences, and she hopes to find that person through correspondence and visits.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world, it shows me up
When I face the world, it reveals my true self
My clothes, they show me up
Even my clothes expose my flaws
I never knew this before
I was unaware of this aspect of myself
The finest hour that I've ever known
Was finding a pound on the Underground
My greatest moment was finding a small victory in an unexpected place
When my words came stumbling out
Then I went tumbling out
I've never been hit before
When I speak, the truth comes out, exposing my vulnerability
And I keep hoping you are the same as me
And I'll send you letters and come to your house for tea
We are who we are, what do the others know
But poetry is not for me, so show me the way to go (home)
I hope you understand me and we can connect. Let's have tea and be ourselves without worrying about others' perceptions. However, I may not be skilled in expressing my thoughts through poetry and I just want to go back home.
But I'll keep hoping you are the only one
Yes, and I'll send you letters, oh, wouldn't it be such fun
Oh, we are who we are, whatever the others say
But poetry is not for me, as much as I'd like to stay
Oh, I just want to go home
I am still hoping to find someone who truly understands me. Sending letters would be a fun way to communicate. Let's remain true to ourselves despite what others may say. Although I appreciate poetry, it's not my strong suit and it's time to go home.
You're, you're, you're too young
Should've been, you, you're, you're too young
It should've been, you too, you're too, you're too young
It should've been, you, you, you're too young
You should've been safe here
Bribed the judge and then sat down
Oh, you're, you're, you're too young
You are too young to be exposed to this danger. You should have been safe here. The judge should have been bribed to protect you. You're just too young.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID GAVURIN, HARRIET WHEELER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind