On Islands
Camouflage Lyrics


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On islands we all run
Onto islands in the sun
And the sun too, is an island
With islands all around

We're all islands in the sea
And the islands want to reach
Other islands passing by
An island in the sky

On islands everywhere
All the islands ever there
All waiting on an island
That island stands alone

On islands
On islands
On islands




On islands
(child speaks in foreign language)

Overall Meaning

The song "On Islands" by Camouflage is a thought-provoking and reflective piece on the concept of isolation and interconnectedness. The song begins by calling attention to the idea that we all feel isolated on our own personal "islands," but we are drawn to gather together on islands under the sun. The sun itself is an "island" in space, surrounded by other "islands" of stars and planets.


The lyrics then move to the notion that we are all islands in the vast sea of life but also part of a greater whole. We yearn to connect with others, just as islands drift toward one another in the ocean. The song also refers to an "island in the sky," perhaps a metaphor for a dream or goal that we aspire to but cannot reach.


The final lines of the song allude to a child speaking in a foreign language, reminding us that language and culture can create barriers that block us from understanding one another. The song ultimately suggests that while we may live on separate islands, we are all connected by the shared experience of life and the desire for human connection.


Line by Line Meaning

On islands we all run
People seek refuge on remote, isolated islands


Onto islands in the sun
Away from their troubles, people escape to sunny, idyllic islands


And the sun too, is an island
The sun is a solitary orb in a vast sky


With islands all around
Planets orbiting around the sun are like islands in space


We're all islands in the sea
Like islands, we are individuals adrift in the vast, interconnected sea of humanity


And the islands want to reach
Islands strive to connect and communicate with each other


Other islands passing by
Adjacent islands symbolize fleeting or missed opportunities for connection


An island in the sky
A metaphor for unattainable, ethereal ideals or aspirations


On islands everywhere
Isolated islands exist all throughout the world's oceans


All the islands ever there
Every past and present island contributes to the collective narrative of human experience


All waiting on an island
Every moment in time and every place of existence is imbued with possibility and potential


That island stands alone
Ultimately, though, every individual and every experience is unique and singular, much like an isolated island


On islands


On islands


On islands


On islands


(child speaks in foreign language)
Indistinct speech that may represent a form of primitive language or alternative perspective




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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