Ed has been making music since the late 1990s, firstly as one third of Parl… Read Full Bio ↴Ed has been making music since the late 1990s, firstly as one third of Parlophone's Brothers in Sound, then later a solo act under the name Redarthur. After a 5-year hiatus which he spent living in University libraries & music technology labs making strange bleeps, he returned to the music industry to join The Paper Cinema, a puppetry/animation/theatre/music hybrid (that tours both internationally & in Hackney). Now performing and recording under the name Ed Dowie, he makes music which fuses experimental techniques with melodic aspirations.

In 2017, Ed released his feted debut album ‘The Uncle Sold’, leading The Quietus to hail him as a “bold and starry-eyed visionary” and The Skinny to praise his “beautiful… stolen snapshots of glimpsed futures and lost pasts.” and BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction made the record one of their albums of the year. Now, four years on, Ed is to return with an album that will surely find him new followers alongside longtime fans such as Lauren Laverne, who described its predecessor as an “absolutely extraordinary” achievement.

The Obvious I (2021) marked a pronounced evolution from Dowie’s earlier music that would see Dowie drawing on musical lessons learned throughout his life: from his childhood as a chorister in Dorset, taught to play piano by his father who himself composes choral classical 20th Century Music, to pivotal friendships made following the dissolution of his first group Brothers In Sound, when Dowie enrolled to study Music, Technology And Innovation at De Montford University in Leicester. The first module studied by Dowie during his time in Leicester introduced him to the work of minimalist composers such as Morton Feldman, Pauline Oliveros and La Monte Young. The Obvious I was co produced by pioneering British experimental musician and sometime member of Polar Bear “Leafcutter John” Burton.

The Island
Ed Dowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tonight runs the star as it crosses the grass on a lie
And it frightens the answer to starve for a while
Your cardigan flowers as it fusses horizons for ice
A new regulation of art as a smile

Design of hours, and on again onto the store
A container inside leaves a pocket of cider no more
Big rolling surf that falls again onto the shore

A bizarre and heartless home

The numbers were due
The detainees were landed on ice
Four handsome vicars are the carers of old
Your base are given barrels with forints and barrow-man homes
To press send and present the relevant forms

Hurricane island was buried alive by their own
The Department of Tarragon, Sorrel and Palatine Bones
Masterman finds a way, carried on all on his own
By the end of the service have I ever grown?

Designer parents escaping their islands alone
Building escape pods and finding the time to be old
Guess what the island likes?
I've got confessions of souls
I've the grounds to be violent I've often been told

Would I be alive if I tried?
All I'm really offering is off with a sword

Overall Meaning

"The Island" by Ed Dowie is a song that explores themes of isolation, escape, and self-discovery. The lyrics depict a desolate and lonely island where the singer finds themselves. It begins with the image of a star crossing the grass on a lie, symbolizing a false hope or illusion. This false hope scares away the answer to the singer's hunger, suggesting a longing for something deeper.

The cardigan flowers fussing with horizons for ice may represent a futile attempt to find beauty or comfort in a barren landscape. The new regulation of art as a smile could imply that art becomes a means of survival or coping mechanism in such a desolate place.

The lyrics then delve into a series of images that further highlight the isolation and bizarre nature of the island. The hours seem to repeat, and a container inside leaves a pocket of cider no more, emphasizing emptiness and monotony. The rolling surf falling again onto the shore could symbolize a repetitive cycle of disappointment or unfulfilled dreams.

The mention of four handsome vicars caring for the old suggests a lack of progress or change on the island, as if time stands still. The use of barrels, forints, and barrow-man homes hints at a makeshift existence and the struggle for survival.

The reference to Hurricane Island being buried alive by its own inhabitants speaks to the self-destructive tendencies of those trapped on the island. The Department of Tarragon, Sorrel, and Palatine Bones adds to the mysterious and otherworldly nature of the song.

The mention of Masterman finding a way on his own may symbolize the singer's search for a way out of their isolation. The line, "By the end of the service have I ever grown?" suggests a longing for personal growth or transformation.

The song concludes with the idea of designer parents escaping their islands and building escape pods, perhaps suggesting a desire for freedom and breaking away from the constraints of the past. The question, "Guess what the island likes?" implies a sense of mystery, while the confession of souls and the grounds to be violent highlight the complex and conflicting emotions of the singer.

Overall, "The Island" is a song that delves into themes of isolation, escape, and self-discovery, using poetic and imaginative lyrics to evoke a sense of melancholy and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

Tonight runs the star as it crosses the grass on a lie
The deceptive movement of a star across the grass symbolizes the falseness and illusion present in the current situation.

And it frightens the answer to starve for a while
The fear caused by this deception suppresses the ability to find a solution, leading to a period of deprivation.

Your cardigan flowers as it fusses horizons for ice
The cardigan, a symbol of comfort and familiarity, searches tirelessly for something new and exciting, like exploring uncharted territory.

A new regulation of art as a smile
A fresh approach to creativity and expression emerges, bringing joy and positivity in the form of a smile.

Design of hours, and on again onto the store
The meticulous planning and organization of time continues, with a focus on mundane tasks and errands.

A container inside leaves a pocket of cider no more
A once full container now holds nothing but empty pockets and a lack of fulfillment.

Big rolling surf that falls again onto the shore
Ongoing cycles of overwhelming challenges and setbacks are compared to waves crashing repeatedly upon the shore.

A bizarre and heartless home
The environment or situation is depicted as strange and lacking in compassion or empathy.

The numbers were due
The time had come for accountability and responsibility.

The detainees were landed on ice
Those who were held captive or restricted were released into an uncertain and hostile environment.

Four handsome vicars are the carers of old
Four respected individuals take on the role of caretakers for the elderly, providing support and guidance.

Your base are given barrels with forints and barrow-man homes
The foundation or core of your being receives supplies and shelter in the form of valuable resources and modest dwellings.

To press send and present the relevant forms
The task at hand is to submit necessary documents and information electronically, ensuring proper completion and presentation.

Hurricane island was buried alive by their own
An island named Hurricane faced its own destruction due to its internal conflicts and self-destructive tendencies.

The Department of Tarragon, Sorrel and Palatine Bones
A mysterious and possibly supernatural organization, associated with herbs and human bones, takes control.

Masterman finds a way, carried on all on his own
A determined individual, known as Masterman, discovers a solution or path forward through their own efforts and perseverance.

By the end of the service have I ever grown?
Reflecting on personal growth and development, questioning whether any progress has been made by the end of a particular experience or period.

Designer parents escaping their islands alone
Parents who are skilled at creating an image or persona find ways to escape their own isolated and restricted lives.

Building escape pods and finding the time to be old
Creating means of escape and prioritizing the enjoyment of life, even in old age, becomes an important endeavor.

Guess what the island likes?
Pondering what brings joy or satisfaction to the island's inhabitants, hinting at their desires and preferences.

I've got confessions of souls
There are deep, personal revelations and admissions from individuals, revealing the true nature of their souls.

I've the grounds to be violent I've often been told
It is believed or rumored that there are valid reasons or justifications for expressing violence, possibly due to past experiences or circumstances.

Would I be alive if I tried?
Questioning the potential for survival or existence if one were to take a risk or attempt something different.

All I'm really offering is off with a sword
The only thing being offered is a swift and decisive end, represented by the act of wielding a sword.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ed Dowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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