Kingdom Come's albums were Galactic Zoo Dossier (1971), the self-titled Kingdom Come (1972), and Journey (1973). Brown stated in an interview with an English music magazine that the three albums were intended to present a thematic progression. The first focused on the state of humankind in the present, the second on the human animal itself and the dichotomy between the body and mind, and the third focusing on cosmic and spiritual matters. The band was marketed as Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come in the United States due to name conflicts.
A number of factors contributed to the end of Kingdom Come.
The band dissolved rather than officially breaking up, with Brown citing a desire to play simpler music and opt for a simpler lifestyle in general in later interviews. However, the music that Kingdom Come left behind is certainly worth exploration for progressive rock and psychedelic rock enthusiasts, and stands up well as a part of Arthur Brown's 30-plus year legacy.
Sunrise
Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has left me in the way
I'm looking round to find the light
Won't you let me see the day
Anywhere a man turns he can't help but see
Waves of destruction and insanity
Deep down my soul raises a plea
The finger that will beckon
Will as soon push you right back again
The arms that caress you
Will fill you full of pain
And that's why, why I gotta love someone
Deep down in my heart I gotta be free to let my soul grow
And then tomorrow can be full of laughter and sunshine
The way behind you may seem very long but far away
And you may search this whole wide world longing for beauty
But never listen, never listen what men say
You've got to be just what you are
Or you will never understand
I'll never be a fool again
I'm gonna try to reach in my mind
I'm gonna look for the way
I'm gonna try and I'll breathe again
Looking out the way
Try to make the day shine
I realise that nothing's gonna get you down
Nothing you owned
Nothing you wanted
And nothing you've had is gonna make you high
The lyrics of Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come's song "Sunrise" speak to the search for hope and light in a world that is full of darkness and chaos. The song opens with the image of the "sunrise on the killing," which seems to refer to the violence and destruction that dominate the world. The singer of the song is seeking to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems devoid of these things. He longs to "see the day" and to find a way out of the darkness.
The song speaks to the idea that even in the midst of chaos and destruction, there is beauty and hope to be found. The singer notes that "anywhere a man turns he can't help but see waves of destruction and insanity," but he also recognizes that there is something deep within his soul that longs for something more. He calls out to the Lord to "bring it back to me," highlighting his need for revelation and guidance.
The latter section of the song emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not giving into the expectations of others. The singer notes that "the finger that will beckon will as soon push you right back again" and that "the arms that caress you will fill you full of pain." He recognizes the need to love someone deeply "in my heart" and to let his "soul grow" freely. Ultimately, the song suggests that in order to find happiness and fulfillment, one must look within oneself and be true to one's own desires.
Line by Line Meaning
The sunrise on the killing
The beginning of something terrible has left me lost and confused
Has left me in the way
I feel stuck and unsure of which direction to take
I'm looking round to find the light
I'm searching for a glimmer of hope in this darkness
Won't you let me see the day
Please give me a chance to experience something positive
Anywhere a man turns he can't help but see
The world is filled with destruction and chaos and it's hard to escape it
Waves of destruction and insanity
The chaos and destruction are overwhelming and hard to comprehend
Deep down my soul raises a plea
My inner being is crying out for help and guidance
Oh Lord, bring it back to me
I'm asking for divine intervention to bring me back to a place of peace and clarity
The finger that will beckon
The same thing that invites you in can turn around and reject you
Will as soon push you right back again
The very thing that seemed promising can quickly become a source of pain and rejection
The arms that caress you
Those who seem to offer comfort and support may actually hurt you in the end
Will fill you full of pain
Their actions and words can cause deep emotional hurt and suffering
And that's why, why I gotta love someone
Despite the risk of getting hurt, I still feel the need to love and connect with others
Deep down in my heart I gotta be free to let my soul grow
I need to be true to myself and allow myself to grow and evolve
And then tomorrow can be full of laughter and sunshine
By being true to myself, I can find happiness and joy in the future
The way behind you may seem very long but far away
Looking back on the past may make it seem like it was far away in time and distance
And you may search this whole wide world longing for beauty
You may spend your whole life searching for something beautiful and meaningful
But never listen, never listen what men say
Don't rely on the opinions and beliefs of others to guide you in your own life
You've got to be just what you are
Be true to yourself and don't try to be someone or something you're not
Or you will never understand
Trying to be someone you're not will only lead to confusion and dissatisfaction
I'll never be a fool again
I won't make the same mistakes and be taken advantage of again
I'm gonna try to reach in my mind
I'm going to dig deep into my thoughts and feelings to find clarity and understanding
I'm gonna look for the way
I'm going to actively search for the right path to take in life
I'm gonna try and I'll breathe again
I'm going to make an effort to move forward and live again
Looking out the way
Searching for a direction to follow
Try to make the day shine
Striving to find positivity in every day
I realise that nothing's gonna get you down
I understand that I shouldn't let negative things bring me down
Nothing you owned
Material possessions don't define happiness or success
Nothing you wanted
Chasing after wants and desires won't necessarily lead to happiness
And nothing you've had is gonna make you high
Even if you have everything you ever wanted, it won't bring true happiness or fulfillment
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@madcyril4135
From north wales
I’m 66 now and saw kingdom come at our local college
In 1972!
The album they played was journey, blew me away.
Bought the other two soon after, you listen to other stuff
overs the decades your taste changes but always liked Arthur.
I bought them again earl 90s never really played them.
Doing a spot of decorating today dug out the zoo dossier
Fantastic forgot how good they were!
I think journey is the best!
Only my opinion, never got the credit they deserved
Hell of a band!
@madcyril4135
Saw saw k.c. At my local college north wales in 1972.
I was 14 blew me away journey was the album they toured with.
I bought the other two albums after that.
If you look at the documentary Glastonbury Fair Arthur is performing
With this lineup and does some dossier material.
They never got the credit they deserved!
Good to know there are still some people with good taste!
They were a hell of a band though!
Take care.
@madcyril4135
@@ianmcdonald1066
Saw k.c. At my local college in north wales 1972 I was 14
my second gig!
The played the journey album blew me away!
Bought the other two k.c. Albums after.
I think journey is the best only my opinion.
Check out the documentary Glastonbury Fair.
And he does some zoo material with this lineup!
They never got the credit they deserved.
@madcyril4135
@@macronencer
I hear you, missed a few festivals and gigs for being too young!
I was 15 and attending a building education course at my local
College and I remembered FIRE! From a few years before.
What a gig!
Came on stage with a traffic light on his head!
Same lineup but no drummer, Arthur was playing
Keyboard drums.
Ace Bentley drum machine apparently.
Can’t remember if it was Atomic Rooster or
kingdom Come was my first gig.
I’ve seen em all over the decades living a stone throw from
Liverpool and Manchester, but K.C. Were brilliant!
I still play those K.C. albums.
Take care.
@munira365
The sunrise on the killing
Has left me in the way
I'm looking round to find the light
Won't you let me see the day
Anywhere a man turns he can't help but see
Waves of destruction and insanity
Deep down my soul raises a plea
Oh Lord, bring it back to me
The finger that will beckon
Will as soon push you right back again
The arms that caress you
Will fill you full of pain
And that's why, why I gotta love someone
Deep down in my heart I gotta be free to let my soul grow
And then tomorrow can be full of laughter and sunshine
The way behind you may seem very long but far away
And you may search this whole wide world longing for beauty
But never listen, never listen what men say
You've got to be just what you are
Or you will never understand
I'll never be a fool again
I'm gonna try to reach in my mind
I'm gonna look for the way
I'm gonna try and I'll breathe again
Looking out the way
Try to make the day shine
I realise that nothing's gonna get you down
Nothing you owned
Nothing you wanted
And nothing you've had is gonna make you high
@madcyril4135
From sunny north wales!
This or FIRE! By ARTHUR of course!
I’m 66 so havnt got long to go!
Saw these at my local college in 71!
Doing a bit of decorating dug this out, and the
other two kingdom come albums BLEW ME AWAY!
forgot how good they were!
Dalby! Brilliant!
Will listen to the others tonight!
With a good bottle of Red wine!
They never got the praise they
deserved.
Look at the Glastonbury Fair footage documentary
They do material from dossier.
Take care our numbers are low!
@user-ww3bs7qd6q
Probably the best song ever made..... ever.
@robertrumbelow5977
Bought this album while still at school. I was 11 in 71 so maybe a bit to young but when 14 in 74 I heard it while visiting a class mate and his elder brother played it and I went straight out and bought it and am still listening at 64 of age. Truly timeless. God bless ya Arthur.
@madcyril4135
From north wales
I’m 66 now and saw kingdom come at our local college
In 1972!
The album they played was journey, blew me away.
Bought the other two soon after, you listen to other stuff
overs the decades your taste changes but always liked Arthur.
I bought them again earl 90s never really played them.
Doing a spot of decorating today dug out the zoo dossier
Fantastic forgot how good they were!
I think journey is the best!
Only my opinion, never got the credit they deserved
Hell of a band!
@emperor105
Oh dear Arthur, this is such a beautiful song, it’s cause me tears and goosebumps, so mysterious, so beautiful, it’s the real Arthur, the spiritual Arthur, am 71 of age but this song and it’s music is beyond any age!
@carlitofalcon9181
Mr. Brown Teamed with. KINGDOM COME TO CREATE ONE OF THE FINEST GROUP OF MUSICIAN'S TO GRACE OUR PRESENCE ! Tomorrow can be Full of Laughter and Sunshine .
Thank You to Arthur Brown and the Member's of KINGDOM CONE for the Finest Ear and Brain Candy !!! ♦️
@jacquikowalewsky7691
Bought this album when it came out, loved it then - love it now. Have only ever met one person in the intervening years that also bought it. Crying shame.
@madcyril4135
Saw saw k.c. At my local college north wales in 1972.
I was 14 blew me away journey was the album they toured with.
I bought the other two albums after that.
If you look at the documentary Glastonbury Fair Arthur is performing
With this lineup and does some dossier material.
They never got the credit they deserved!
Good to know there are still some people with good taste!
They were a hell of a band though!
Take care.
@musicairplanes4884
This entire album was many years ahead of its time.
@jereviitanen6883
Decades I'd say
@ianmcdonald1066
I agree, A vastly underrated album A masterpiece of progressive rock.I have been playing this album for 50 years and it still gives me goosebumps. Check out Kingdom Comes Journey,another album ahead of its Time.
Thank you Arthur Brown. A legend !!