Wait for the Sun

Well, it seems like the wait is almost over! Today, the sun is trying really hard to shine through scattered clouds, the temperatures are finally climbing (Wednesday’s forecast for Winnipeg, Canada is for a high of 16°C/61°F), so outdoor cycling season seems within reach.

To celebrate this morning, I watched the replay of this past weekend’s Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s World Tour race, the 145.4-kilometre (90-mile) Paris-Roubaix Femmes. It’s nicknamed the “hell of the north” as the many sectors of cobblestone paths make for a gruelling one-day race, and this year was no exception as tire punctures and crashes were common occurrences on those rough sections.

Despite being one of the oldest men’s road races, a women’s Paris-Roubaix event has only existed since 2020, demonstrating just how long it has taken for women to gain respect and inclusion in traditionally male-centric professions and pursuits. Organizers had to cancel that inaugural race because of Covid-19. In 2021 and 2022, riders from the Trek-Segafredo pro team took the number one place on the podium; that was especially exciting to me as a first-time watcher last year and as a Trek road bike rider. This year was suspenseful for different reasons that I won’t share in case any of my readers are cycling enthusiasts who have yet to watch the race. (I barely made it to this morning without seeing the winner’s name as some articles popped up on various feeds!)

On to today’s song, though…

“Wait for the Sun” is a track by the English alternative rock band Supergrass that pops into my random play reasonably often, and I like it a lot. The band’s sound reminds me of other music I can’t quite put my finger on, though lead singer Gaz Coombes’ (b. 1976) voice reminds me a little of Axl Rose (b. 1962) from the American hard-rock band Guns N’ Roses. The song has a definite power-ballad vibe from the acoustic guitar, and solid vocal melodies add much to it. An electric guitar comes in for a solo later on.

“White budding sun,
It’s gonna come again,
Wait for the one,
She’s bringing you her love,

But I may not know everyone,
Along the way,
And I may not see everyone,
Along the way,

Head for the hills,
They’re never far away,
Look for the one,
She’s coming for your love,

But I may not know everyone,
Along the way,
And I may not see everyone,
Along the way,

(Take it away, wolfman!)

But I may not know everyone,
Along the way,
And I may not see everyone,
Along the way,
And I may not know everyone,
Along the way,
And I may not see everyone,
Along the way.”

“Wait for the Sun,” by Gaz Coombes, Danny Goffey and Mick Quinn.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.

I’m unsure of the song’s meaning, but it seems to imply optimism. At any rate, it’s an excellent tune.

“Wait for the Sun” appears on a bonus CD with the band’s second studio album, In It for the Money (1997), and is part of a remastered and expanded 20th-anniversary edition of their 1995 album (their first), I Should Coco. It also appears on a greatest hits compilation, Supergrass Is 10 – The Best of 94-04 (2004). The song was never released as a single.

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here.

Here is the audio for the song from the Supergrass YouTube channel:

With sunny wishes,

Steve