Anderson also had this to say about the renewed partnership with Bernard Butler: “For years and years after Bernard left Suede it was me running the show, but now the stakes are raised. I feel like we are duelling with each other, in some kind of friendly competition. When we were at our best it was always like that, each trying to better each other.”
The band played their first ever live show on December 14, 2004 at the Oxford Zodiac. Things went as expected for the "new" band, and most new songs were received well by those attending the first set of shows. When asked during a concert by a fan to play the famous Suede song, The Drowners, Anderson replied saying, "Did somebody say they want us to play The Drowners? They came to the wrong gig".
Apart from relatively minor reviews of the first clutch of live shows, The Tears first press, a review of Refugees, interview with Anderson and a poster(!)was in The Sun on 15 April. The next major article was by Alex Petridis in The Guardian, which ended on an extremely optimistic note: "the pair seem artistically reinvigorated by each other's company. Anderson talks excitedly of Tears songs like the ballad Asylum, inspired by his father's struggle with depression, as having moved away from "Suede cliches or Brett Anderson cliches ... it's not, you know, opiated fop territory". There's even a hint of the old provocative flash and arrogance when talk turns to the future: Here Comes the Tears feels like a debut. It will be massively bettered. On this at least there's no hint of disagreement. "This album's like rocking the boat a bit. There's been a few splashes," nods Butler. "Next time, I want to get rid of the sails and see what happens."
From the start, Anderson and Butler were very insistent that the band would not be playing any songs by Suede. Things would change over time, however, as the band ended up playing a b-side of Suede's titled The Living Dead to an enthusiastic reception, during an encore for their show at the Sheffield Leadmill in April. On April 25, 2005, the band's first single, Refugees, was released. The single was very much a success and jumped into the top ten singles chart at number nine.
The band's debut album, Here Come The Tears followed on June 6, 2005. It was released to stellar reviews that helped solidify the duo's comeback, yet it failed to crack the top 10. In late June, the band played a set at the John Peel stage at the Glastonbury Festival. The second single from the debut album, entitled Lovers, was released on June 27. Though a significantly lower charting than the previous single, it still managed a decent spot in the top 25.
More than a month later, singer Anderson announced that he would release his long awaited solo album in between the touring and the release of the band's follow up album. After playing a few festivals and international gigs, the band announced a European tour with dates in October and November. However, to the disappointment of many fans, they later cancelled the tour in favour of beginning work on their second album. Shortly after, the band were dropped from their label most likely due to insufficient touring or low sales.
In late April of 2006, Anderson posted a message on the band's message board announcing the band were on temporary hiatus because "no one ever wanted this thing to get caught up within the drudgery of the whole tour/record/tour cycle anyway". In addition, he announced that he had completed his debut solo album and that it would see light in early 2007, hinting that the second Tears record would most likely come after that, if at all.
By the end of August 2006, their website and forum are officially closed, leaving dimmer hope for the future of the band.
In September of 2006 Butler posted on his website: ".....actually tears are the same as ever....i guess coming from the suede trajectory it would look odd to make a record and not stick to the brand name plugging away endlessly at one thing....but if you take my shocking career line over 12 years its just par for the course....im on top of the world working constantly on terrific records from 1990's the mescalitas on offs, and soon we will be making the Duffy record ....
yes i always loved more than i thought"
Apollo 13
The Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't belong to the world that I'm from
Your lazy words blow like confetti in the wind
In the wind
Estuary girl you're not part of my scene
Your feet don't belong in my upholstery
Sometimes I sink when you call me on the phone
Oh but if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo we'll fly to the moon
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll explode
Sad as a song, a child of the streets
Your skin don't belong on my designer sheets
In eyeliner you wrote me a note that I'll never read at all
Estuary girl
Oh but if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo we'll fly to the moon
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you into the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll explode
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you into the unknown
(Estuary girl you're not the one)
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo we'll sink like a stone
(You don't belong to the world that I'm from)
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you into the unknown
(Estuary girl you're not the one)
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll explode
(You don't belong to the world that I'm from)
(Estuary girl you're not the one)
(You don't belong to the world that I'm from)
(Estuary girl you're not the one)
You don't belong to the world that I'm from
In "Apollo 13," The Tears explore the idea of a relationship that has no future. The song's narrator is convinced that he's not meant to be with the girl who he refers to as an "estuary girl." This is evidenced by the opening lines of the song, in which he sings, "Estuary girl you're not the one / You don't belong to the world that I'm from." He sees her as being from a different world than he is, and their differences are too great to overcome. He describes her words as "lazy" and compares them to confetti blowing in the wind, suggesting that she is not serious or committed enough for him.
Later in the song, the singer mentions that the girl had written him a note in eyeliner, but he'll never read it. This suggests that she has connections to a different world, one of street life and eyeliner, that he cannot understand. Despite these differences, the singer expresses a willingness to take a chance with the girl if she wants to go on an adventure with him. He compares their relationship to that of the Apollo 13 mission, which famously experienced an explosion in space. This metaphor is used to convey the risk that he's willing to take by entering into a relationship with the girl. The singer is willing to risk everything, even if it means that they will ultimately fail.
Line by Line Meaning
Estuary girl you're not the one
The person addressed is not the one that the singer wants or identifies with
You don't belong to the world that I'm from
The person addressed is not a part of the singer's social circle or background
Your lazy words blow like confetti in the wind
The person addressed speaks carelessly and without purpose
In the wind
The artist dismisses the other person's words
Estuary girl you're not part of my scene
The person addressed doesn't fit into the artist's lifestyle or interests
Your feet don't belong in my upholstery
The person addressed is not welcome in the singer's home or personal space
Sometimes I sink when you call me on the phone
The singer feels overwhelmed or burdened when the other person contacts them
On the phone
The artist is referring to communication with the other person
Oh but if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
The artist offers to go on a journey with the other person, despite their differences
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo we'll fly to the moon
The artist compares their journey with the other person to the Apollo space mission, and the possibilities it represents
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
The singer reiterates their willingness to go on a journey with the other person
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll explode
The artist references the space mission's tragic outcome, suggesting that their journey with the other person may also end in failure
Sad as a song, a child of the streets
The person addressed is portrayed as a sympathetic figure, but still incompatible with the singer
Your skin don't belong on my designer sheets
The person addressed is not welcome in the singer's personal space or lifestyle
In eyeliner you wrote me a note that I'll never read at all
The singer is dismissive of a communication from the other person, suggesting it is insincere or unwelcome
Estuary girl
A term the artist uses to address the other person, emphasizing the cultural and social differences between them
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll sink like a stone
The artist again references the tragic outcome of the space mission, suggesting that the journey with the other person will also end in failure
You don't belong to the world that I'm from
The singer repeats their earlier sentiment that the other person doesn't fit into their social circle or background
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH BUTLER, BRETT ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind