The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I hear a sound, a sound above my head
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
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
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
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
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
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
Lyrics submitted by wednesday181, edited by huw1085121
Kingdom of Rust Lyrics as written by Jez Williams Andy Williams
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
great to have the doves back with this awesome song.
seems, imo, to be a song about being deeply in love with someone who isn't available ("went looking for that stolen heart"), but as opposed to trying to get to them and controlling the situation themselves, they decide to let things happen in their own due time, to let go, wait to see if they will ever return the love they feel. it doesn't seem that this is something that comes very easily, willingly, as the person from this perspective is in love. "my god, it takes an ocean of trust" to believe that the other person will one day come around if they just learn to let go and not force the situation.. and so they wait.
the line "i long to feel that wince in my heart" is absolutely great. describes well the sensation of being in love, imo.
Reportedly, Jimi wrote this song for his late father who died while the band was recording Kingdom of Rust. In this case, kingdomofrust's explanation is the closest, it just needs to be appropriately adjusted for his father instead of a lover.
@Phoenix10k Bingo.Great job.You researched and did like a reporter.it can mean any loved one honestly...
Great song, this one is a grows on you,
The term 'kingdom of rust' is probably referring to this world where everything ages(rust decays slowly) and then dies naturally.
I have to agree he is deeply in love with someone(most probably a girl) who isn't available because they have passed away: 'videos shows him scattering the ashes at the sea in the end'
So in order to remember his lover he is going back to where he met her first, at the beach: 'As I go searching Right to the start'
He is religious and is tempted to committ suicide but is saying its is so hard to hold on to your faith: 'My god It takes an ocean of trust Takes an effort, it does'
He is exptecing he would feel his lover's presence when he goes to the sea to scatter the ashes and feel that 'wince' in his heart: I long to feel That wince in my heart As I went looking
Now he is going to wait to die naturally where he will meet his lover in the hereafter: 'I couldn't stop Now I'm Waiting for you'
Just wanted to put what I hear in this verse:<br /> <br /> I long to feel<br /> That wince in my heart<br /> As I went looking<br /> <br /> 'I couldn't STARVE (not stop)<br /> Now I'm<br /> Waiting for you'<br /> <br /> Doesn't really change the meaning much though...
The phrase "Kingdom of rust" could well refer to the decayed industry of the region. Could be an allegory to his relationship with his first love from the area and/or his family?
And so each venture Is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate With shabby equipment always deteriorating In the general mess of imprecision of feeling, Undisciplined squads of emotion. And what there is to conquer By strength and submission, has already been discovered Once or twice, or several times, by men whom one cannot hope To emulate–but there is no competition– There is only the fight to recover what has been lost And found and lost again and again: and now, under conditions That seem unpropitious. But perhaps neither gain nor loss. For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.
unintelligible part is 100% "yes it does" it makes sense too and also he says that thru out the song
Bear with me cause I'm not that deep.
i think the song overall is about questioning his faith during a tragedy, whether it be loss of a loved one or a relationship or whatever.
my, god it takes an ocean of trust sounds like he's saying its impossible to put all his faith in someone,something, god, whoever while his world is crumbling around him (the kingdom of rust).
But at the end he's come to the realization that he just has to have faith(i know it takes an ocean of trust).
i say this because at the end of the video when he emptied the ashes and he was crying it seemed that he was happy.
so it all works out in the end, just have to have faith.
great song!
The first unintelligble bits sound like:
The road back to Preston was covered all in snow So I went looking for that stolen [still unintelligible!]
In the video you see a motorway sign to Preston, and although he's not going "back" there it is mentioned so that makes me think that what the lyric is
Yeah, after listening to a lower quality version of the song (thus, making the string not quite so symphonic and allowing the vocals to stand out a little better), I thought I heard Preston in there over the weekend. Re-checked the video (since I'm American - I haven't a clue as to most UK city names, so sometimes they go over my head), saw the street sign, and pretty much came to the same conclusion. Thanks for the help!
no problem. I have just attempted lyrics for Jetstream which are just awaiting moderation so if you want to return the favour you can have a check of my lyrics!
The "unintelligible" part sounds a bit to me like "it's hard" ...idk just throwing that out there :)
Preston is a small town in Lacashire, NW England.
The 'cooling towers' are those of a nuclear power plant. Preston happens to be powered by one.