Islands
- The xx Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't have to leave anymore
What I have is right here
Spend my nights and days before
Searching the world for what's right here

Underneath and unexplored
Islands and cities I have looked
Here I saw
Something I couldn't over look

I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore

See what I've done
That bridge is on fire
Going back to where I've been
I'm froze by desire
No need to leave

Where would I be
If this were to go under
That's a risk I'd take
I'm froze by desire
As if a choice I'd make

And I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore

And I am yours now (I am yours now)
So now I don't ever have to leave (ever have to leave)
I've been found out (I've been found out)
So now I'll never explore





So now I'll never explore

Overall Meaning

The XX's song Islands is a testament to finding contentment in the present moment and accepting what is already here, rather than constantly searching and exploring for something better. The opening lines, "I don't have to leave anymore, what I have is right here," indicate the singer's realization that what they were seeking was actually already in their grasp. They no longer need to spend their "nights and days" searching the world for something that is right in front of them.


The lyrics talk about "islands and cities" that the singer has looked for, but it is something that they "couldn't overlook" right here. This is all representative of the inner journey one goes through to find contentment in life. In the end, the singer has found what they have been searching for and realizes that they don't have to leave anymore. They have been "found out," and they know that they will never explore again.


The bridge of the song talks about a burning bridge, symbolizing the past that the singer is leaving behind. They are no longer frozen by desire, and they don't need to leave anymore. The risks that they were once afraid of taking are no longer important, as they have found what they have been searching for. The chorus repeats the same sentiment, emphasizing the permanence and certainty of their newfound contentment.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't have to leave anymore
I have found what I needed and don't need to search any further


What I have is right here
I have found what I needed and it's within reach


Spend my nights and days before, Searching the world for what's right here
I used to spend a lot of time searching for something, but I finally found it here


Underneath and unexplored, Islands and cities I have looked, Here I saw Something I couldn't over look
I have explored many places, but finally found something that caught my attention and couldn't be ignored


I am yours now, So now I don't ever have to leave, I've been found out, So now I'll never explore
I have found what I needed and don't need to search any further, as it's now a part of my life


See what I've done, That bridge is on fire, Going back to where I've been, I'm froze by desire
I recognize the risks of returning to my past, but I'm drawn by my desire to do so


No need to leave, Where would I be, If this were to go under
I don't need to leave as I have found what I needed, but I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't found it


That's a risk I'd take, I'm froze by desire, As if a choice I'd make
I'm willing to take the risk of losing what I have for the sake of my desire, as if it's a conscious choice I'm making


And I am yours now, So now I don't ever have to leave, I've been found out, So now I'll never explore
I have found what I needed and don't need to search any further, as it's now a part of my life


And I am yours now (I am yours now), So now I don't ever have to leave (ever have to leave), I've been found out (I've been found out), So now I'll never explore
I have found what I needed and don't need to search any further, as it's now a part of my life


So now I'll never explore
I have found what I needed and don't need to search any further, as it's now a part of my life




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Baria Qureshi, James Thomas Smith, Oliver David Sim, Romy Anna Madley Croft

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@eel4115


I don't have to leave anymore
我再也不必離開


What I have is right here
我擁有的就在這裡


Spend my nights and days before

Searching the world for what's right here
之前我耗費日日夜夜探索這個世界,
就是為了這個。



Underneath and unexplored
地底下和未探測到的



Islands and cities I have looked
我曾觀察過的島嶼和城市



Here I saw
Something I couldn't over look

在這我所看見了一些無法忽視的東西



I am yours now

現在我是你的了



So now I don't ever have to leave
因此我再也不需要離開


I've been found out
我被找到了


So now I'll never explore
因此我將不用再探索。


See what I've done
看看我曾經做的


That bridge is on fire
那座橋梁在火裡燃燒


Going back to where I've been
往回走到我曾經待過的地方


I'm froze by desire
我愣住了,因為熱切的慾望


No need to leave
Where would I be
不需要離開我將在的地方



If this were to go under
如果這裡將沉沒,



It's a risk I'd take
這是我要承受的風險


I'm froze by desire
我愣住了,因為熱切的慾望


As if a choice I'd make
像是假設我做了一個選擇


I am yours now

現在我是你的了



So now I don't ever have to leave
因此我再也不需要離開



I've been found out
我被找到了



So now I'll never explore
因此我將不用再探索。



@iameatingpizzachoosingthis5422

If you dont get the video just read how i watched it

"Wow this vid is great!"

"Is it gonna repeat like this?

"Nothing is changing..."

Towards the end

"Woah. I didnt even noticed people were leaving... now the vid is over."

Some people cant appreciate something until its over. Relationships are the same...



@isibona3869

ISLAS --
Ya no tengo que irme....
Lo que tengo está aquí...
Antes pasaba noches y días
buscando en el mundo lo que está aquí....

Por debajo y sin explorar
Islas y ciudades he mirado....
Aquí vi algo que no puedo ignorar....

Soy tuya ahora...
Así que ahora nunca tendré que irme..
He sido encontrada....
Así que ahora nunca exploraré...

Mira lo que he hecho...
Ese puente está ardiendo....
Y así he estado yo...
Estoy congelada por el deseo
No hace falta que me vaya....

Donde estaría
si estoy se fuera abajo..
Es un riesgo que correré...
Estoy congelada por el deseo...
Como si fuera una elección que hice....

Soy tuya ahora...
Así que ahora nunca tendré que irme...
He sido encontrada...
Así que ahora nunca exploraré...

Así que ahora nunca exploraré ...



@yeredgonzalez9080

That bridge is on fire
Going back to where I've been
I'm froze by desire
No need to leave
Where would I be
If this were to go under
It's a risk I'd take
I'm froze by desire
As if a choice I'd make



@jeremRamones

I don't have to leave anymore
What I have is right here
Spend my nights and days before
Searching the world for what's right here
Underneath and unexplored
Islands and cities I have looked
Here I saw
Something I couldn't over look
I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore
See what I've done
That bridge is on fire
Going back to where I've been
I'm froze by desire
No need to leave
Where would I be
If this were to go under
That's a risk I'd take
I'm froze by desire
As if a choice I'd make
And I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore
And I am yours now (I am yours now)
So now I don't ever have to leave (ever have to leave)
I've been found out (I've been found out)
So now I'll never explore
So now I'll never explore



@marisolruiz8666

I don't have to leave anymore 
What I have is right here 
Spend my nights and days before 
Searching the world for what's right here 

Underneath and unexplored 
Islands and cities I have looked 
Here I saw 
Something I couldn't over look 

I am yours now 
So now I don't ever have to leave 
I've been found out 
So now I'll never explore 

See what I've done 
That bridge is on fire 
Going back to where I've been 
I'm froze by desire 
No need to leave 

Where would I be 
IF this were to go under 
It's a risk I'd take 
I'm froze by desire 
As if a choice I'd make 

I am yours now 
So now I don't ever have to leave 
I've been found out 
So now I'll never explore [x2] 

So now I'll never explore ❤❤❤



All comments from YouTube:

@BILLbilly01

Truely a masterpiece

@sephajones4444

BILLbilly01 im going to have to agree with you on that one bikky

@alasdairkerr1979

Easy all stars

@jaquelinemoucherek8849

Ggg

@antoniafredrickson2914

Yess💜

@dennismakowski9973

Yup

3 More Replies...

@tarothara8632

so ahead of its time. This whole album sounds incredible even in 2021.

@DanishAli-qy9ph

Cxxx

@dogboy0912

It's so unique in how it sounds. Sure it fits into a genre, but it's not like where you go, "ah yeah this sound was popular from 200X to 200X or ah yeah, sounds like a song from early [era]." I think those bold, simple riffs on the guitar that cut through everything really contributes. It's not just some droning rythm in the background. It plays really well with the vocals.

@darrenlamb5640

Nothing is ever ahead of its time. Especially not in 2009. There had been music a great deal more complicated and whatever else a long long time before this came along. I loved this album but to say it was ahead of it's time is just ridiculous.

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