Originally formed in 1988 as Sub Sub, a dance act who coincided with the rise of the Hacienda and the rave scene from Manchester expanding outwards, they enjoyed moderate success for seven years including the hit single "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (#3 UK), before suffering the disaster of their studio burning down in 1996, taking all their current recordings with them. The experience, tragedy and pressure of that would inspire their name-change, in 1998, to Doves, and ultimately their first full-length album, Lost Souls released in April 2000. "Lost Souls" was a dark, atmospheric effort, full of brooding keyboards and claustrophobic light grooves, yet charted at number 13, mainly due to the top 40 singles, "The Cedar Room", "Catch The Sun" and "The Man Who Told Everything".
Two years later, Doves enjoyed their commercial and critical peak with their second album, The Last Broadcast, which charted at number 1 in the UK charts, spawning a hit single, "There Goes The Fear", which reached number 3 in the chart. "The Last Broadcast" was characterised by huge, spacious recordings, and an overall feeling of euphoria and relief. Two more singles, "Pounding" and "Caught By The River" both charted inside the top 40, and in the summer of 2003, Doves headlined the Other Stage on the last night of the Glastonbury Festival.
Recording problems and writers' block delayed the emergence of their third album, Some Cities, until Spring 2005. This was a return to the more claustrophobic sounds of their debut, though still featured the top 10 single "Black & White Town". "Some Cities" sold well, debuting at #1 on the UK chart, and received some of the band's strongest reviews to date.
Jimi Goodwin and Jez Williams both contributed to other bands in the late 90's, Goodwin played bass for Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr's band Electronic on their 1999 album Twisted Tenderness and Williams played guitar on Saint Etienne's albums, 1998's Good Humor, 2000's Sound of Water and finally 2002's Finisterre.
2009 saw the release of 'Kingdom of Rust' and a tour to support, soon followed by 'The Places Between', a greatest hits album - also released as a double album with DVD compilation of singles, non-single releases and remixes.
The band is on a break from recording, according to an interview with The Daily Record. Jimi Goodwin stated: "It's nice just to have a bit of breathing space... We just wanted to get off that whole album-tour-album-tour treadmill. None of us are ready to face going into the studio for another two years. This is wiping the slate clean, we have nothing else in the vaults now. That is it. Whatever we do from now on will be a new start."
On 2 October 2012, EMI International released a Doves anthology titled 5 Album Set featuring all four studio albums from Lost Souls to Kingdom of Rust and the 2003 re-issue of Lost Sides.
It has been announced that Jimi Goodwin will support British band Elbow on their Spring 2014 tour of the United Kingdom.
Kingdom of Rust
Doves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Distant sound of thunder, moving out on the moor
Blackbirds flew in and to the cooling towers
I'll pack my bags
Thinking of one of those hours
With you, waiting for you
In the kingdom of rust
I long to feel some beauty in my heart
As I go searching, right to the start
The road back to Preston
Was covered all in snow
As I went looking for that stolen heart
For you, waiting for you
My God, it takes an ocean of trust
Takes an effort, it does
My God, it takes an ocean of trust
It's in the kingdom of rust
Oh, in the kingdom of rust
I long to feel that wince in my heart
As I went looking
I couldn't stop
Now I'm waiting for you
Oh, yes, it does
I know it takes an ocean of trust
In the kingdom of rust
The lyrics to Doves’ song Kingdom of Rust describe a sense of longing and searching for something or someone. The opening lines “I hear a sound, a sound above my head, distant sound of thunder, moving out on the moor” set a poetic and perhaps somewhat foreboding tone. As the verse continues, the imagery of blackbirds flying to cooling towers creates a sense of desolation and abandonment. The chorus repeats the line “My God, it takes an ocean of trust in the kingdom of rust,” emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining trust and hope in a world that seems to be deteriorating. The second verse continues the theme of searching and longing, with the singer traveling through snow-covered roads and continuing to search for a lost heart. The repetition of the line “waiting for you” throughout the song reinforces the idea that the singer is searching for something that may be just out of reach, but worth pursuing nonetheless.
Overall, Kingdom of Rust can be interpreted as a song exploring the complexities of human relationships and the difficulty of finding beauty and meaning in a world that can sometimes feel bleak and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a sound, a sound above my head
The singer hears a sound and feels its presence above them.
Distant sound of thunder, moving out on the moor
The sound is like distant thunder and seems to be moving away in the open countryside.
Blackbirds flew in and to the cooling towers
Blackbirds arrived and flew around the cooling towers, possibly seeking shelter or food.
I'll pack my bags
The artist is preparing to leave or go on a journey.
Thinking of one of those hours
The artist reminisces about a past, significant moment with someone.
With you, waiting for you
The singer is thinking of the person they were with during that moment and is eagerly waiting for them.
My God, it takes an ocean of trust
The situation at hand requires a significant amount of trust.
In the kingdom of rust
This situation occurs within the kingdom of rust, a symbolic phrase for something that has decayed or deteriorated.
I long to feel some beauty in my heart
The artist desires to experience something beautiful that touches their emotions.
As I go searching, right to the start
The artist is actively searching for this beautiful feeling, starting from the beginning.
The road back to Preston
The singer is on their way back to Preston, a location significant to them.
Was covered all in snow
The road back to Preston is currently blanketed in snow.
As I went looking for that stolen heart
The singer is searching for their heart that was taken or lost.
For you, waiting for you
The singer is doing this in hopes of reuniting with the person they are waiting for.
Takes an effort, it does
This situation requires significant effort and work to be resolved.
Oh, in the kingdom of rust
Again, this situation occurs within the kingdom of rust, a place of decay and forgetfulness.
I long to feel that wince in my heart
The artist wants to feel an emotional reaction, perhaps a painful one, in their heart.
As I went looking
The singer continues to search for something that evokes emotions within them.
I couldn't stop
Despite any obstacles or difficulties, the singer cannot stop searching for this experience.
Now I'm waiting for you
The artist is waiting for the person they are seeking this experience with.
Oh, yes, it does
The situation truly requires an immense amount of trust.
I know it takes an ocean of trust
The artist is aware of how much trust is needed for this situation.
In the kingdom of rust
Once more, this situation occurs within the kingdom of rust, a place of neglect and decay.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andy Williams, Jez Williams, Jimi Goodwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulhutton6246
OMG. I've missed this for so long, I got it. loved the tune but never knew why.....
I've been there, stayed there, worked there, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Scotland, Graingemouth, in the winter,
I hail from Birmingham,
so I know cold. and, Home.
I left long ago... But Home is always home
Good job Doves.
Quality.
@joshuaharrison8113
I hear a sound
A sound above my head
Distant sound of thunder
Moving out on the moor
Blackbirds flew in
Into the cooling towers
I'll pack my bags
Thinking of one of those hours
With you
Waiting for you
My god
It takes an ocean of trust
In the Kingdom of Rust
I long to feel
Some beauty in my heart
As I go searching
Right to the start
The road back to Preston
Was covered all in snow
As I went looking
For that stolen heart
For you
Waiting for you
My god
It takes an ocean of trust
Takes an effort, it does
My god
It takes an ocean of trust
It's in the Kingdom of Rust
In the Kingdom of Rust
I long to feel
That wince in my heart
As I went looking
I couldn't stop
Now I'm
Waiting for you
I know
It takes an ocean of trust
In the Kingdom of Rust
@PerfectSnowball
Fuck, this is literally one of the best songs I've ever heard. My spine's tingling.
@penzevz7414
if you like this check out 'Snowden', you'll love it.
@MartTLS
Have a look at There Goes the Fear great video too
@billiemcgarry452
bang on pal what a tune seen them back oasis up at etihad would love a reunion
@Dangermoose-rv6bb
You need to get out more if this is even amongst the 100 best songs you've ever heard.
@xg3990
@Dangermoose2000 no, he really doesnt. You need to be less of an asshole and let people like what they like. Here's a tip, instead of being condescending, just suggest ANY song or band. Much more useful than this putrid, pointless comment.
@DddUuhHh
One of the most underrated bands ever!
@awakenlilrabbit
Agreed
@zapatarmando
Let's keep it that way ;)
Best to know we are just a few who cherish Doves.
@noeljohnson868
Those who know Doves, love Doves forever..it's that simple..