No Doubt's live act began to attract regional interest, and Interscope Records signed them in 1991. The band's debut a year later, an odd fusion of '80s and ska, sank without a trace in the wake of the grunge movement. As a result, Interscope refused to support No Doubt's tour or further recordings. The band responded by recording on their own during 1993-94; the result was the self-released The Beacon Street Collection, much rawer and more punk-inspired than the debut. Eric Stefani left just after its release, later working as an animator for The Simpsons. By late 1994, Interscope allowed recordings to resume, and Tragic Kingdom was released in October 1995. The album's third single, Don't Speak, which although originally written by Eric was later altered by Gwen to document her breakup with bassist Tony Kanal. Tragic Kingdom went platinum and has sold over 15 million copies to date. As Tragic Kingdom obtained success, the band toured furiously until late '97.
After a long break, the band had prepared a more mellow, and powerfully dramatic album entitled Return of Saturn. It emphasized Gwen's encounters with men, her biological clock, and miscellaneous topics. Although the album had a completely different approach to it, the band was making rock music with less of a punk/ska flare. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts in early April of 2000, and then declined to a flop. The public never did justice to the album, and it serves as a favorite for many die-hard fans.
While touring in Jamaica for Return of Saturn, the band wanted to try adding Reggae to their music, and making more of a dance rock record. 20 months after Return of Saturn debuted, the band was quick to jump on the creation of Rock Steady, released in December of '01. The singles Underneath It All and Hey Baby became international dance club symbols as top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This album proved that No Doubt had not lost their potential with the public, and that they could appeal to various groups of people.
In 2004, No Doubt announced they would be going on hiatus after the release of the singles compilation The Singles 1992–2003, which contained one new song, a cover of experimental rock band Talk Talk's "It's My Life". Tony Kanal did several projects with Gwen and other artists. Adrian Young married and had a child; Tom Dumont formed a new band, Invincible Overlord, often plays with Matt Costa's band. Gwen embarked on a sucessful solo career which consisted of two albums - "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." and "The Sweet Escape". The first of these albums contains the single "Hollaback Girl", a song which was inescapable for most of 2005 and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won her a Billboard Award for first track to reach 1 Million legal downloads ever. The self titled track off "The Sweet Escape" went on to become her most notorious calling card.
With the hiatus officially over in late 2008 No Doubt announced tour plans for 2009, kicking it off in Atlantic City. The tour concluded with four dates in Irvine, CA. In May, 2009, the band was featured as a fictional 80's band, "Snowed Out", on CW Network's "Gossip Girl" The band performed their cover of Adam and the Ants 'Stand and Deliver.'
The group entered the studio in May 2010 to start recording on their sixth studio album: Push and Shove which will be release on September 25, 2012 and its first single will be "Settle Down". Their first music video for the new album will also be for "Settle Down" and it will be directed by Sophie Muller (who previously has done numerous music videos for No Doubt). The whole album has been recorded with producer Mark "Spike" Stent (who worked on their previous album Rock Steady) but they have also collaborated with Major Lazer (now Diplo's solo project). No Doubt previously revealed they are taking influence from ska, 80s new wave and Jamaican reggae music for the new record.
Leftovers
No Doubt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Facing my demotion, I'm just a fish in your ocean
Has been that's what I am with no backstage wrist band
I'm freaking, seconds of you, that's not what I'm used to
Feed, feed them all to me
I'm careful with my stuff
What's your policy?
I save 'em up, I put 'em in my pocket
I save 'em up, I put 'em in a jar
I save 'em up, I'm going to need 'em for later
I save 'em up, and then they'll go real far
Hand me downs, I'll take downs
I'll take the leftovers
Cold ones and the old ones, better than no one
Feed, feed them all to me
I'm careful with my stuff
What's your policy?
First one's free
I save 'em up, I put 'em in my pocket
I save 'em up, I put 'em in a jar
I save 'em up, I'm going to need 'em for later
I save 'em up, and then they'll go real far
I time it out, I gotta be real careful
I time it out, I get 'em right one time
I time it out, get 'em when I need him
Time is up, what's left is over
It's over
I can never have enough
I can never have enough
I sure am greedy, hand 'em over to me
I save 'em up, I put 'em in my pocket
I save 'em up, I put 'em in a jar
I save 'em up, I'm going to need 'em for later
I save 'em up, and then they'll go real far
I time it out, I gotta be real careful
I time it out, I get 'em right one time
I time it out, get 'em when I need him
Time is up, what's left is over
The lyrics to No Doubt's song "Leftovers" speak to the singer's desperation and longing for a lost love. She reflects on her current state without her former partner, feeling like a "has been" and just a small part of a much larger world. She uses the metaphor of being a fish in her ex's ocean, insignificant and easily replaceable.
In the chorus, the singer pleads for any scraps or remnants of her ex-lover, declaring that she can never have enough. This creates a clear dichotomy between her current situation of having nothing and the hope that even the "leftovers" could be enough to satisfy her.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more desperate and even border on obsessive. The singer talks about "saving up" pieces of her past relationship as though they are precious currency. She times out when to use them, indicating a strategic and calculated approach to trying to salvage what is left.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking what should I do now I don't have you
Pondering about my current situation after losing you
Facing my demotion, I'm just a fish in your ocean
Acknowledging my lower status and powerlessness in your presence
Has been that's what I am with no backstage wrist band
Realizing that I am no longer popular or influential without special privileges
I'm freaking, seconds of you, that's not what I'm used to
Feeling anxious and uncomfortable without your constant attention and affection
Feed, feed them all to me
Give me everything you have to offer
I'm careful with my stuff
I value and protect what I have
What's your policy?
What are your rules and expectations for giving to me?
First one's free
You offer something to entice me, but I know it won't last
I save 'em up, I put 'em in my pocket
I collect and keep everything you give me for later use
I save 'em up, I put 'em in a jar
I store all the things you give me to have a supply for later
I save 'em up, I'm going to need 'em for later
I hoard all the things you give me because I know I'll need them in the future
I save 'em up, and then they'll go real far
I can stretch out the things you give me to last a long time
Hand me downs, I'll take downs
I'll accept anything you don't want or need anymore
I'll take the leftovers
I will gladly take whatever scraps you have to offer
Cold ones and the old ones, better than no one
Even though what you're giving me is old and unexciting, it's still better than nothing
I time it out, I gotta be real careful
I plan and strategize how to use what you give me so I don't waste it
I time it out, I get 'em right one time
I make sure to use what you give me in the most effective way possible
I time it out, get 'em when I need him
I use what you give me only when absolutely necessary
Time is up, what's left is over
I've exhausted all the things you've given me, and now there's nothing left
I can never have enough
I always want more of what you have to offer
I sure am greedy, hand 'em over to me
I openly admit my greed and demand that you continue giving me what I want
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Gwen Renee Stefani, Tony Ashwin Kanal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind