Released: May 9th 2005

Produced by: Doves, Ben Hillier, Rich Costey

Label: Heavenly

Additional Info: Snowden features backing vocals from Guy Garvey.

Son of a Builder contains elements of “Beasley Street,” written by Mancunian poet John Cooper Clarke.

Track listings

CD1 HVN 150CD

1. Snowden (Rich Costey Mix)
2. Son Of A Builder

CD2 HVN 150CDS Numbered with four art cards.

1. Snowden (Rich Costey Mix Edit)
2. Black And White Town (David Holmes Remix)
3. Almost Forgot Myself (Doves vs. 69Corp)

Limited 7″ Vinyl HVN 150

Side A: Snowden (Rich Costey Mix)
Side B: Black Circus Of Prague

Music OMH

When considering a Doves song, the adjectives “soaring” and “euphoric” often come to mind. Their now considerable armory of anthems fit these descriptions, and to their number can be added Snowden.

What this doesn’t do, though, is mark Doves out as one trick ponies. Where Black And White Town had a rhythmic swing and boogie, Snowden’s stately opening melody is more akin to something Suede might have penned in their heyday. Here, Jimi Goodwin gives the customary epic vocal, the weighty ending asking; “If this is our last summer, then why should we care?”

If you’ve not yet invested in a copy of Some Cities then this ought to swing the balance – Doves are still in a rich vein of form.

I said man, can you help me out?
Bring me back to love
Bring me back to life

Oh why should I care?

I said how, could you keep me out?
Without a wish to share
So without a doubt

Oh then why should I care?

We have been warned
It’s a classic sign
It’s a wicked mind
With an axe to grind

When is it our, our turn?
So why should we care?

Yeah we have been warned
It’s a classic sign
Why should we care?

If this is our last summer
Oh then why should we care?

If this could be our last summer
Then why should we care?

Above: Video 2

Link: Video 1

Directed By Dominic Leung

Highest UK single chart position: 17

Snowden spent two weeks in the chart. Second week, number 48.