Superdrag - Destination Ursa Major (Official Music Video)

The Song

“Destination Ursa Major” is a track from Superdrag’s debut album, Regretfully Yours, released in 1996 by Elektra Records. The song wasn’t as big a hit as their breakout single “Sucked Out” (which peaked at #17 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks), but it’s a fan favorite with a cult following.

The song is a classic slice of ‘90s alternative rock, jangly guitars, melodic hooks, and a bittersweet edge. The tone leans melancholic, with a driving rhythm that’s more introspective than danceable.

Written by frontman John Davis, the lyrics are cryptic but heavy with emotion: “I’m so sensitive to light / I may never get it right / All the bloody stupid miracles and lies / Guess it’s up to you to have it exorcised.” The refrain, “Destination Ursa Major,” paired with lines like “It could be that I can never get away / That’s the reason I am blowing you away,” suggests a struggle with escape, possibly from personal demons or a toxic relationship. Fans speculate it reflects Davis’s battles with alcohol, with the “Ursa Major” reference evoking a cosmic, otherworldly detachment, like being lost in a drunken haze. One commenter on SongMeanings tied it to “bad decisions you tend to make when under the influence.”

The Music Video

The music video for “Destination Ursa Major” dropped in 1996, directed by Chris Applebaum, a big name in ‘90s music videos (think Rihanna and Britney Spears later on).

The video didn’t get the same MTV airplay as “Sucked Out,” but it still resonated with the ‘90s alternative crowd. A recent Reddit post on r/90sAlternative (November 2024) got 10 upvotes and a comment saying, “Hell yeah! Loved Superdrag!” showing it still has nostalgic pull.

Note-Worthy Anecdotes

The song’s spacey title and lyrics have fueled speculation about John Davis’s struggles with alcohol. The line “sober is over now” and the cosmic “Ursa Major” (the Great Bear constellation) could symbolize feeling adrift or untethered, maybe from drinking or emotional turmoil. A fan on SongMeanings in 2011 wrote, “I’m fairly sure it somehow chronicles John’s alcohol problems... the space references are probably how drinking makes you feel, like you’re somewhere else entirely different.” This ties to Davis’s later life: he became a born-again Christian in 2003, quit drinking, and briefly pivoted to contemporary Christian music before Superdrag reunited in 2008.

Band Dynamics and Hiatus: Superdrag’s debut was a high point, but Regretfully Yours was their only major-label hit. Their follow-up, Head Trip in Every Key (1998), flopped commercially, leading Elektra to drop them. By 2003, the band went on hiatus, partly due to Davis’s personal transformation. The “Destination Ursa Major” video captures them at their peak, before the industry grind and internal changes took their toll.

Superdrag hailed from Knoxville, Tennessee, a smaller music scene compared to Seattle or LA. Their scrappy, melodic punk-inspired sound stood out among grungier ‘90s peers. One source notes they were one of the few “Buzz Bin” bands (alongside the Refreshments or Wax) to keep touring consistently until their 2003 breakup, earning a loyal cult following. This hustle likely shaped the raw energy of the “Destination Ursa Major” video.

Chord Confusion: Guitar nerds might appreciate this: one source admits uncertainty about the song’s chords, saying, “I’m not sure about these chords....” The listed progression (B, C#m, E) is a starting point, but fans on Chordify and chords.vip have debated the exact voicings, reflecting the song’s cult status among musicians trying to nail its sound.

“Destination Ursa Major” is a gem from Superdrag’s Regretfully Yours, blending catchy power-pop with darker, introspective lyrics that hint at John Davis’s personal struggles. The Chris Applebaum-directed video, while not as iconic as “Sucked Out,” is a time capsule of ‘90s alt-rock grit, still cherished by fans on platforms like Reddit. Anecdotes point to the song’s ties to Davis’s alcohol issues and the band’s underdog status in a grunge-heavy era.