The band met at the University of Nottingham and within their first year together self-released their debut 'Noah' EP, performing at Reading & Leeds Festival. Their first album ‘5AM’, produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Foals, Two Door Cinema Club), broke through in 2015 spawning the US platinum single ‘I Found’.
They returned in 2017 with second album ‘For A Moment, I Was Lost’; soundtracking Meghan Markle’s final appearance in the US drama ‘Suits’ with their track ‘Fickle Game’, before following up with ‘The Assembly’ EP in 2018 and ‘Philophobia’ in 2019, with shows including London’s iconic Roundhouse and New York’s Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Island
Amber Run Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't ya?
Handsome face
The devil in the dark
When we're talking
Reminded why
I thought it'd be you
One angel in the night
Oh, when I die
Oh, when I die
Don't waste your flowers on me
And you found yourself another man
And that's ok, I understand
I didn't want you anyway
?? When
??
With your pretty face
???
You just fade away
Oh, when I die
Oh, when I die
Don't waste flowers on me
?? When I
Don't let me go
Put your arms around me
Eh
Cause I
Don't want to be an island
Cause you
?? If you
??? On our own
I question why bother at all
Because I
Don't want to be an island
Oh, I forget where I was
And for a moment I was lost
Oh, I forget where I was
And for a moment I was lost
No, I don't want to be an island
No, I don't want to be an island
You think you're pretty special
Don't ya?
Handsome face
The devil in the dark
The lyrics of "Island" by Amber Run are open to interpretation, but the overall message seems to be that the singer is struggling with feelings of isolation and a desire for connection. The opening lines imply that the subject thinks highly of themselves and may have some darker qualities, likening themselves to the devil in the dark. The second stanza speaks to the idea that the singer was once hopeful for a deeper connection, but it never manifested. The lines "I thought it'd be you to take me high/ One angel in the night" may refer to a romantic interest or simply a longing for someone to understand them.
The chorus is emotive and memorable, with the singer begging their hypothetical mourners not to waste flowers on them when they die. This could be interpreted as feeling unworthy of attention or adoration. The second half of the song implies that the singer has moved on from their quest for connection and has accepted isolation as their fate. The line "I didn't want you anyway" could be read as defiant, but it could also be a mask for deeper hurt.
Overall, "Island" is a poignant exploration of human connection and the pain that comes with feeling alone. Its dark and emotive lyrics are elevated by the strength of the melody and the soaring vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you're pretty special
Don't ya?
The singer is talking to someone who believes they are better than others and has an ego.
Handsome face
The devil in the dark
The person being addressed has an attractive appearance but also has a dark side to them.
When we're talking
Reminded why
I thought it'd be you
?? To take me high
One angel in the night
When the singer talks to this person, they remember why they were initially drawn to them. The singer thought the person could make them feel amazing, like an angel in the night, but there's a missing line, so the full meaning is uncertain.
Oh, when I die
Oh, when I die
Don't waste your flowers on me
The artist doesn't want to be given flowers after they die. It could mean they don't want to be remembered and would rather be forgotten.
And you found yourself another man
And that's ok, I understand
I didn't want you anyway
The person being addressed has moved on to someone else, and the artist has come to terms with it. The artist never really wanted the person to begin with.
?? When
??
With your pretty face
???
There are missing lines, so the full meaning is unclear.
You just fade away
The person the singer is addressing is slowly becoming less important in their life and will eventually disappear.
?? When I
Don't let me go
Put your arms around me
Eh
The artist is asking the person to hold onto them and embrace them, making them feel loved and protected. There's a missing line, so the full context is unknown.
Cause I
Don't want to be an island
The artist doesn't want to be alone, isolated, or cut off from others. They desire companionship and don't want to be a solitary island.
Cause you
?? If you
There's a missing line, so the full meaning is unknown.
??? On our own
I question why bother at all
Because I
Don't want to be an island
When people are alone or rejected, they question why they try at all. The singer doesn't want to feel this way and wants to be with others, so they don't have to deal with the pain of loneliness.
Oh, I forget where I was
And for a moment I was lost
Oh, I forget where I was
And for a moment I was lost
The artist is saying they feel lost and unsure of themselves. Perhaps this is caused by the other person's actions or words.
No, I don't want to be an island
No, I don't want to be an island
The singer repeats the previous line to emphasize their desire to be with someone and not be alone.
Writer(s): Joshua Keogh, Henry Wyeth, Tomas Sperring, William Jones
Contributed by Gianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.