I've laid this island sun a 1000 times
I'm on it
But I'm going strange
This island's chills and shell cover me
With winded rock
And skies I've got yet to see
I tried
I even sent in friends
They did it as a favor
Cause I'm not that way
I am the autumn in the scarlet
I am the make-up on your eyes

I land to sail
Island sail
Yeah, we're movin
Yeah, we're movin
This island's sun I've laid 1000 times
Fortune me
Fortune me
Of all my mistakes
I think I lent you late

But I've never seen a scarlet
Or a riot or the violence of you

I land to sail
Island sail
Yeah, we're movin'

Overall Meaning

The Breeders' song, "Off You," is rich with abstract imagery and metaphor, leaving the interpretation of its lyrics up to the listener. The song opens with the singer recounting their intimate familiarity with an island's sun, saying that they have "laid this island sun a thousand times." Despite being on this island frequently, they feel "strange" and isolated, describing the island's chills and shells that cover them. The singer mentions having sent friends as a favor, indicating a desire or need for companionship, but ultimately accepting that they are not that kind of person. The chorus hints at a need for movement and escape, as they sing about setting sail and moving from the island, repeating the phrase "island sail" multiple times.

The second verse is equally poetic, with the singer proclaiming themselves to be "the autumn in the scarlet" and "the make-up on your eyes." Both these phrases suggest an association with beauty, adding an element of self-praise to the song. The next lines mention mistakes, such as lending too late, but they remain ambiguous as to the nature of these mistakes. Finally, the song ends with the singer stating that they've never seen a scarlet or a riot or the violence of you, reinforcing the theme of isolation and estrangement.

The intriguing lyrics of "Off You" allow for multiple interpretations, from a personal catharsis to a broader societal struggle. The song is notable for its unique and experimental sound, with distorted guitar riffs and Kim Deal's raw vocals adding to its emotional weight.

Line by Line Meaning

I've laid this island sun a 1000 times
I've been on this island many times before and I am familiar with all of its ways.

I'm on it
I am currently staying on the island.

But I'm going strange
However, I am starting to feel different than usual and strange.

This island's chills and shell cover me
The coldness and emptiness of the island are enveloping me and making me feel isolated.

With winded rock
The island is rocky and exposed to strong winds.

And skies I've got yet to see
There are new things to explore and discover on the island that I haven't seen before.

I tried
I made an effort to enjoy my time on the island.

I even sent in friends
I asked my friends to come and help me enjoy my time on the island.

They did it as a favor
They did it to help me out, even though they didn't really want to come.

Cause I'm not that way
I'm not the type of person who enjoys being alone on an island.

I am the autumn in the scarlet
I am a person who brings change and transformation to the world, like the autumn season that transforms the colors of the trees from green to scarlet.

I am the make-up on your eyes
I am the one who enhances and beautifies you, like make-up does to your eyes.

I land to sail
I come to the island to go sailing.

Island sail
I enjoy sailing around the island.

Yeah, we're movin
We're moving fast as we sail around the island.

This island's sun I've laid 1000 times
I have experienced the sun on this island many times before.

Fortune me
May luck be on my side as I explore the island.

Of all my mistakes
Out of all the mistakes I've made in life.

I think I lent you late
I believe that I should have given you something sooner, before it was too late to do so.

But I've never seen a scarlet
Although I am used to the changes brought by autumn, I have never seen anything quite as unique and transformative as the color scarlet.

Or a riot or the violence of you
I have never seen the kind of chaos and destruction that you are capable of.

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