The driven duo have ushered numerous tour vehicles into retirement since beginning their global adventure.
Three years after they married, in 2006 Ruth and Brookln Dekker started making music together in their then home city of Chicago, inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, Grandaddy, John Martyn, Jose Gonzalez and Elbow.
The Anglo-American outfit earned their stripes on the Chicago music scene before selling most of their belongings and boarding a plane for Europe, armed with their instruments and self-titled 2008 debut LP, for their first out-of-town tour.
The road quickly became Rue Royale’s way of life – with chips and dents in their tour vans’ bodywork testament to over 600 shows in 15 countries.
Meanwhile, without the backing of a manager and (until recently) a label, between tours the couple rustled up a cottage industry at their new home in Nottingham. Together they printed, snipped, sewed and stuffed over 9,000 Rue Royale CDs, including 500 pre-orders for their second album ‘Guide To An Escape’ which they issued independently in 2011. Fans also warmed to the hand-made Rue Royale knitted goods (hot water bottle cover anyone?), bags and clothes that graced their merch stalls.
‘Guide To An Escape’ was picked up by Sinnbus who officially released it in March 2012. It retained the acoustic duo’s hushed, evocative melodies but was richer in sound and wider in scope, recorded at home following experimental sessions with producer Paul Pilot (who mixed the record) in London. The album featured the single “Halfway Blind” which got repeat plays on BBC 6Music by the likes of Gideon Coe when released as a limited edition seven inch.
Always on the move, the outfit collaborated again last year with Paul Pilot in pan-European project Guidebooks, stitching together organic electronica and classic free-spirited songwriting. In November 2012, Rue Royale fans were treated to a very limited edition split cassette single, “Try As They Might”, with Dutch songwriter and friend Kim Janssen.
And now to album number three – which is set to see the pair press pause on home recording and enter a bigger studio set-up for the first time.
“We’ve written a lot over the past year and it’s exciting!” Brookln enthuses. “The new songs feel fresh and lively. We’ve been working much more intuitively and have a lot of confidence in this batch of tunes. Our releases so far have been home recordings which have been great fun. But we want to step up the quality and do real justice to our new material.”
To realize their ambitions, Rue Royale are encouraging fans to help fund the new record through the successful Kickstarter model, with a number of pre-order options.
“We want to make the best album we can but are relying on the support of our loyal fans. It feels like a risk but it’s also exciting, and humbling, that people who like our music can play a big part in helping us create it,” says Brookln.
Whichever new direction the album takes, you can count on the fact that the journey will continue for Rue Royale, who are fitting in a UK tour in January/February before hitting the studio. That’s 101,946 miles and counting….
U.F.O.
Rue Royale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I've seen your silhouette,
Up in the stars.
I think I've got an autograph,
Penned on my heart.
I think I've yet to understand,
Who you are.
But, can't see for the dark.
And they call it a halo,
They call it what they want.
And they call it a savior but I don't know what it was.
UFO
You are, UFO
You are, UFO.
I think I've found your residence,
Over the clouds.
I think I'm plenty confident,
To say it aloud.
I'm sorry for the wrong I've done,
Don't mean you to frown .
Lookin' for the answers,
There's none to be found.
And they call it a halo,
They call it what they want.
And they call it a savior but I don't know what it was.
And they call it a halo, they call it what they want.
And they call it a savior but I don't know what it was.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines the most.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines, UFO, UFO.
UFO, UFO.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines the most.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines the most.
The song U.F.O. by Rue Royale is a beautiful and hauntingly introspective song about the search for something greater than oneself. The lyrics speak of a mystery figure, an unidentified flying object (UFO), whose silhouette is seen in the stars and whose autograph is penned on the heart. The singer is searching for answers, but is unable to see through the darkness.
The lyrics are filled with contradictions and questions. They call it a halo or a savior, but the singer is unsure of what it really is. They have found the residence of the UFO, but there are no answers to be found. The singer lifts their eyes to the one who shines the most, perhaps seeking enlightenment or guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I've seen your silhouette,
The singer has caught a glimpse of someone they believe to be the subject of the song, but they are unsure.
Up in the stars.
The subject is perceived as being above and beyond reach, like a star in the sky.
I think I've got an autograph,
The singer feels an emotional connection to the subject and has a unique, personal memento of them, like an autograph on their heart.
Penned on my heart.
The connection the artist feels is deep and meaningful, as if the subject's name is written on their heart.
I think I've yet to understand,
The artist feels like they haven't yet fully grasped who the subject is or what they represent.
Who you are.
The singer is still uncertain about the identity and nature of the subject.
Lookin' for the answers,
The singer is actively searching for clarification and understanding about the subject.
But can't see for the dark.
Despite their efforts, the artist is still in the dark and unable to gain clarity about the subject.
And they call it a halo,
Others have labeled the subject with different names and descriptions, such as 'halo.'
They call it what they want.
People have their own ideas and interpretations of who or what the subject represents.
And they call it a savior but I don't know what it was.
Others believe the subject to be a savior or holy figure, but the singer is uncertain of this interpretation.
You are, UFO
The artist addresses the subject directly, calling them a UFO, implying they are a mysterious and otherworldly being.
I think I've found your residence,
The singer believes they have located the subject's home or headquarters, possibly through recent efforts to discover more about them.
Over the clouds.
The subject's residence is perceived to be above and beyond the singer's reach, like a location that can only be accessed via the clouds.
I think I'm plenty confident,
The singer is now more self-assured and assertive about their understanding of the subject and their relationship to them.
To say it aloud.
The artist is now comfortable expressing their feelings about the subject more openly.
I'm sorry for the wrong I've done,
The artist expresses regret and seeks forgiveness for any past mistakes or misunderstandings related to the subject.
Don't mean you to frown .
The singer wants to make amends and not upset or offend the subject in any way.
There's none to be found.
Despite the singer's renewed confidence, they are still unable to find answers or clarity about the subject.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines the most.
The artist metaphorically looks up to the subject, who they perceive as the brightest and most influential being in their life.
And I lift up my eyes to the one who shines, UFO, UFO.
The artist reiterates their focus on the subject, who they still perceive as a mysterious and otherworldly entity.
UFO, UFO.
The title refrain is repeated, emphasizing the artist's continued fascination and connection to the subject.
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheVideo96
They are so good and deserve way more than 3200 views. Its ridiculous
Alessio Nanni
Real musicians. Real music.
Martin Elsner
Klasse, ehrliche Musik. ❤️