The band met and formed in Greenville, North Carolina, USA while studying art at East Carolina University. Their first band was Art Lord & The Self-Portraits, which was also composed of Adam Beeby and Kymia Nawabi and lasted from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, Cashion, Herring, and Welmers formed Future Islands, along with Erick Murillo, the bassist for The Kickass. Other former members include Samuel N. Ortiz-Payero (drums, 2008) and Denny Bowen (drums, 2009–2013 in studio; 2013–2014 touring)
Future Islands released Little Advances in April 2006, and a self-released split CD with Welmers' solo project Moss of Aura in January 2007. In July 2007, they recorded their debut album, Wave Like Home, with Chester Endersby Gwazda at Backdoor Skateshop in Greenville, North Carolina. After a Halloween party in 2007, Murillo quit the band. In late 2007 and early 2008, the band relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The "Feathers and Hallways" 7" was recorded in Oakland, California during their first US tour and was their first release as a focused three-piece. Upset! the Rhythm released Wave Like Home on 25 August 2008. The cover art was designed by Kymia Nawabi, a former member of Art Lord & The Self-Portraits. In 2009 the band signed to independent Chicago record company Thrill Jockey.
Their second album, In Evening Air, was recorded in the band's living room in the historic Marble Hill neighborhood in Baltimore and released on 4 May 2010.Their third full-length album, On the Water, was recorded in Elizabeth City, NC's historic, waterfront Andrew S. Sanders House. It was released on 11 October 2011.
These early albums from Future Islands are often associated with other bands affiliated with Wham City, such as Videohippos, Santa Dads, Blood Baby, OCDJ, Adventure, Dan Deacon, Weekends and Double Dagger.
In 2014, they released Singles with hit-track Seasons (Waiting on You). The band and song gained critical acclamation from Pitchfork and NME and performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman, a performance that went viral. In 2017, they released The Far Field and most recently in 2020 they released As Long As You Are.
Before the Bridge
Future Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I will leave you there
I'll take the books you stole
And leave a heart that bears this
I hope you have what you need
I hope the moon is listening
I hope you have what you need
I hope you have what you need
I hope the moon is listening
I hope you have what you need
I gave you soul and body
And if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Whatever has us now
I can't forget somehow
For to forget a love is to regret
And what is love is regret
And what isn't love is a test
And if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
'Cause if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Far far away
Whatever has us now
I can't forget somehow
For to forget a love is to regret
The song "Before the Bridge" by Future Islands is a poignant and emotional song that speaks to the depth of human emotions and relationships. The lyrics reflect the feelings of someone who is walking their loved one home and leaving them there while taking the books they stole and leaving behind a heart that bears their love. The song is a reflection on what could have been in their relationship if things had changed or if they had stayed the same.
The repetition of the line "I hope you have what you need" reinforces the idea that the singer truly cares about the other person’s well-being, even if they can't be together. The lyrics express fear that the love the singer still feels for the other person will be forgotten but also that to forget a love is to regret. Through the lyrics, the singer is grappling with letting go of someone they deeply care for but can no longer be with.
Overall, the song's meaning is bittersweet, a reflection of love that remains unrequited, though precious and profound in the memory of what has passed.
Line by Line Meaning
And I will walk you home
I will accompany you back to your place
And I will leave you there
I will depart after safely escorting you to your destination
I'll take the books you stole
I'll help smuggle the books you took without permission
And leave a heart that bears this
I'll leave behind a heart that aches with emotion
I hope you have what you need
I hope you possess everything that brings you contentment
I hope the moon is listening
I hope that your needs and wishes are granted
I hope you have what you need
I hope you possess everything that brings you contentment
I gave my soul my body
I gave you everything
I hope you have what you need
I hope you possess everything that brings you contentment
I hope the moon is listening
I hope that your needs and wishes are granted
I hope you have what you need
I hope you possess everything that brings you contentment
I gave you soul and body
I gave you everything
And if things had changed
If things were different
I would have buried you deep in my heart
I would have kept you dearly in my memories
And if things had stayed the same
If nothing was different
I would have carried you as far as the sky
I would have gone to great lengths to make you happy
Whatever has us now
Whatever our current situation is
I can't forget somehow
I'm unable to forget
For to forget a love is to regret
If I forget this love, I'll live with regret
And what is love is regret
Love carries the risk of regret
And what isn't love is a test
If it's not love, it's a challenge
Do you believe in love?
Do you trust in love?
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
Do you believe in love?
Do you trust in love?
Do you believe in love?
Do you trust in love?
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
Do you believe in love?
Do you trust in love?
Do you believe in love?
Do you trust in love?
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
Hold your tongue
Be quiet and listen
'Cause if things had changed
Because if things were different
I would have buried you deep in my heart
I would have kept you dearly in my memories
And if things had stayed the same
If nothing was different
I would have carried you as far as the sky
I would have gone to great lengths to make you happy, regardless of the situation
Far far away
A great distance away
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Gerrit Welmers, Samuel Thompson Herring, William Hugh Cashion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chelseahernandez4926
And I will walk you home
And I will leave you there
I'll take the books you stole
And leave a heart that bears this
I hope you have what you need
I hope the moon is listening
I hope you have what you need
I gave my soul my body
I hope you have what you need
I hope the moon is listening
I hope you have what you need
I gave you soul and body
And if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Whatever has us now
I can't forget somehow
For to forget a love is to regret
And what is love is regret
And what isn't love is a test
And if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in love?
Hold your tongue
Hold your tongue
'Cause if things had changed
I would have buried you deep in my heart
And if things had stayed the same
I would have carried you as far as the sky
Far far away
Whatever has us now
I can't forget somehow
For to forget a love is to regret
@emilrobyn4216
one of the most underrated songs and bands in recent history
@mrvivalatang
Criminally underated! Loveeeee this song!
@francisco4434
justice comes in from time to time and what i can assure you is that this band will be one of the greatest of recent times!
@rodguilbeau113
Totally agree, love Future Islands 💕
@iamclydieCS
Yeah [=]
@iamclydieCS
oh yerh
@itslaureninnit
i only let myself listen to this on special occasions. I never want to ruin this song for myself.
@cronker86
lauren b-n it NEVER GETS OLD!
@Joao58420
I really feel u
@mrvivalatang
Still getting smacked fair in the feels :)