Their second album 'Derdang Derdang' was recorded in Nashville in the summer of 2005 and produced by Jacquire King; it was later released on April 3, 2006. The album received generally excellent reviews, with UNCUT and Mojo awarding it four stars. The London listing magazine Time Out awarded it five. They performed a showcase at the 2006 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. In April of 2006 they embarked on a European tour with labelmates Clearlake. The band perform on stage accompanied by an illuminated plastic goose.
In December 2006, Mojo voted Derdang Derdang fifth best album of 2006 in their end of year poll beating such notables as Cat Power and Sonic Youth.
In January 2007, they won the South Bank/Times Breakthrough Award.
The Archie Bronson Outfit played a live gig at the T-Mobile Transmission television event in April 2007.
Islands
Archie Bronson Outfit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me over the river, electricity
Gold in your pockets, lose some for me
I sense them coming, electricity
Promise, promise me, return the dead
This heart burns electricity
We have a life together, we have ties to break
Our past's an island we have set to sea
Promise me, promise me, return the dead
This heart burns electricity
Mountains shed water, islands need sea
Take me over the river, electricity
The lyrics of Archie Bronson Outfit's song "Islands" are quite enigmatic and open to interpretation. However, one possible reading of the song is that the mountains and islands mentioned in the first line represent opposing forces - the former being solid and immovable, the latter being fluid and elusive. The singer seems to be caught in the tension between these forces, wanting to be taken over the river (perhaps to escape or find new ground), but also feeling a pull towards the stability of the mountains. The repeated refrain of "electricity" suggests a kind of energy or current that is driving the singer forward, even as they are torn between different desires.
The middle section of the song introduces the idea of sacrifice or exchange, with the lines "Gold in your pockets, lose some for me / I sense them coming, electricity". Here, it's unclear who the "them" refers to - perhaps some kind of threat or danger that the singer is trying to ward off. The phrase "lose some for me" could imply that the singer is asking someone to give up something valuable in order to protect them. The second instance of "electricity" in this section takes on a darker tone, suggesting a sense of foreboding or danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Mountains shed water, islands need sea
Water flows from high areas into lower ones, and so mountains naturally shed water. In contrast, islands are surrounded by water and depend on the sea for survival. This line signifies that different things have different needs and requirements to thrive.
Take me over the river, electricity
The singer wishes to cross the river, but they need electricity to do so. Electricity represents a form of power needed to achieve their goal; it could be a literal or a metaphorical form of energy. Either way, it is essential to the singer's journey.
Gold in your pockets, lose some for me
The singer is asking the other person to share their good fortune. Gold represents wealth or abundance, and the singer wants them to share it even if it means they have to give some of it up. This line is about generosity and altruism.
I sense them coming, electricity
The artist is aware of something approaching, and they need electricity to prepare for it. The precise context of what 'they' are is unclear, but it's clear that the artist needs electricity as a form of defense or protection.
Promise, promise me, return the dead
The artist is asking for a promise to be made to bring back the dead. This promise could refer to a literal resurrection or an attempt to preserve someone's memory. The artist wants them to come back, even if it's just in spirit.
This heart burns electricity
The singer's heart is full of passion and energy. Electricity is a metaphorical representation of the powerful emotions they feel. This line is about feeling emotionally charged or intense.
We have a life together, we have ties to break
The singer acknowledges that they share a life with someone else, but things need to change. Ties represent bonds or connections. The singer wants to leave their past behind and move forward, even if it means breaking those ties.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE OLDFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tatteredtim
Islands is still one of my favorite ABO songs. ABO and Clinic are the next best thing to The Velvet Underground! xo
@BManStan1991
not a big fan of clinic