Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Tropical Island
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tropical island Ohhhh
Feel the sea breeze waiting
to lay you down just like a diamond
Ohhhh
Courageous peufis by design
Blankets filled with iodine
Lover come again just fine meet us in one day
Full discecle battle plan
He who sells his percodines one day
Tropical island, Ohhhh ohhhhh ohhhhh
When i?m a sad sight, ohhh
When I?m just bagpipes, ohhh
I want to make it know you
Befriend me long after my twilight, ohhh
Whitest oceans often sigh
Just enough to color it nice
Who?s your willing sacrifice meet us in one day
Ring ding another one dies
Watching posers scandalize
Trading of their panty lines one day
Tropical island, Ohhhh ohhhhh ohhh ohhh
Dreaming of a taxi which colors my dismay
it?s in a tunnel the sun discounts the rain
for all those blow horns just crying where you are
the light is out there tears eclipse the sun
is just to far
Whitest oceans often sigh
Just enough to color it nice
Who?s your willing sacrifice meet us in one day
Ring ding another one dies
Watching Posers scandalize
Trading of their panty lines one day
Tropical island, Ohhhh ohhhhh
The lyrics of Adam Green's song "Tropical Island" are poetic and enigmatic. The repeated mantra of "Tropical Island, ohhhh" could be interpreted as an attempt to transport the listener to a place of exotic escape, a place where troubles can be momentarily forgotten. The references to blankets filled with iodine and courageous peufis evoke a sense of the unusual and the unfamiliar. The song speaks of longing and companionship with lines such as "I want to make it known you, befriend me long after my twilight, ohhh."
The lyrics also touch on darker subjects, such as the idea of sacrifice and the trading of panty lines. The line "He who sells his percodines one day" suggests the selling of prescription drugs, which could also be interpreted as a commentary on the drug culture that often surrounds party culture. The repeated phrase "Ring ding" might symbolize the sound of a bell or a warning, and the line "Watching posers scandalize" could be seen as a critique of the superficiality and performative nature of modern culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Tropical Island, Ohhhh
Introduction to the tropical island and its beauty
Tropical island Ohhhh
Reaffirmation of the beautiful tropical island
Feel the sea breeze waiting
Acknowledging the sea breeze present on the island
to lay you down just like a diamond
Describing how the sea breeze makes you feel special, like a diamond
Ohhhh
Reiteration of the beauty of the island and its atmosphere
Courageous peufis by design
Referring to the strength of the palm trees by design
Blankets filled with iodine
Referring to the sand being rich in nutrients, specifically iodine
Lover come again just fine meet us in one day
Asking a lover to come back to the island one day in the future
Ring ding battering ram
A nonsensical phrase that doesn't have an associated meaning
Full discecle battle plan
Another nonsensical phrase that doesn't have an associated meaning
He who sells his percodines one day
A reference to drug dealers and their eventual downfall
Tropical island, Ohhhh ohhhhh ohhhhh
Reiteration of the beauty of the island and its atmosphere
When i?m a sad sight, ohhh
Acknowledging feelings of sadness that can occur even on a beautiful island
When I?m just bagpipes, ohhh
A hypothetical comparison to a musical instrument that doesn't have an associated meaning
I want to make it know you
Expressing a desire to befriend someone on the island
Befriend me long after my twilight, ohhh
Asking to remain friends for a long time, even after leaving the island
Whitest oceans often sigh
A reference to the calmness of the ocean and how it can make you feel at peace
Just enough to color it nice
Describing how even the slightest movement or sound can make the ocean seem more beautiful
Who?s your willing sacrifice meet us in one day
A metaphorical question about who will sacrifice something to come back to the island
Ring ding another one dies
A nonsensical phrase that doesn't have an associated meaning
Watching posers scandalize
Observing people who are trying too hard to fit in or impress others
Trading of their panty lines one day
A hypothetical reference to someone who may sell their underwear as a way to make money
Dreaming of a taxi which colors my dismay
A reference to wanting to leave the island and go back to reality
it?s in a tunnel the sun discounts the rain
A nonsensical phrase that doesn't have an associated meaning
for all those blow horns just crying where you are
Acknowledging the presence of boat horns in the distance
the light is out there tears eclipse the sun
Referencing the idea that even in beautiful moments, sadness can come up and temporarily block the happiness
is just too far
Accepting that it is difficult to reach the ideal state of happiness all of the time
Tropical island, Ohhhh ohhhhh
Reiteration of the beauty of the island and its atmosphere
Contributed by Eva A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.