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.
The Great Fire
Future Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But if I could, I'd say the same
I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always
I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
And, I will wait tonight
Along a pier, alone in light
And, I will wait in sight, for you to call
In purple night
But, I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
The Great Fire by Future Islands paints a picture of someone longing to be with their lover again. The first line, "I can't ask you now", suggests that there is no opportunity for the singer to express their feelings to their partner. It's a moment of frustration because they wish they could tell their partner how they feel. However, the following lines, "If I could, I'd say the same, I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always", show that they are aware that they have hurt their partner in some way that has made it difficult for them to sleep. The singer wishes they could take away this pain.
The chorus, "But, if you let me be there, again / I'll be still, won't say a word", conveys that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be with their lover again, even if it means not speaking a single word. This is a powerful display of how much the singer values the relationship and how desperate they are to make things right. The rest of the song is filled with the singer's desire to be close to their lover again, but also their despair at knowing they can't be.
Overall, The Great Fire is a deeply emotional song about lost love, regret, and longing. It's a powerful and relatable track that stands as one of Future Islands' best.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't ask you now
I am unable to ask you currently.
But if I could, I'd say the same
If I had the opportunity, I would express my feelings just as before.
I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always
I cannot be the source of your pain that you carry with you every night.
I can't watch you dream
I am not capable of witnessing your dreams.
Beside a fire
While you are beside a flame.
You made to leave
That you have created for the purpose of leaving.
But, if you let me be there, again
However, if you allow me to be present once more.
I'll be still, won't say a word
I will remain motionless and silent.
And, I will wait tonight
I intend to remain in one location during this evening.
Along a pier, alone in light
I will be situated by a dock, in solitude and amidst illumination.
And, I will wait in sight, for you to call
I will patiently anticipate your signal that you desire my presence.
In purple night
During an evening with violet hues.
If you let me be there, again
If you permit me to join you anew.
I'll be still, won't say a word
I will remain tranquil and refrain from speaking.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Gerrit Welmers, Samuel Thompson Herring, William Hugh Cashion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milo Zabál
I can't ask you now
But if I could, I'd say the same
And I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always
And I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
And I will wait tonight
Along a pier, alone in light
And I will wait in sight, for you to call
In purple night
But I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
Sarah K
Two of the most underrated voices in music today in a single track. Both Jenn and Sam sound so unique and soulful - glad they came together to make this song. The guitar sounds quintessentially Wye Oak and the synth is so classically Future Islands and my god, the combination is beautiful. Honestly, I could gush over this song forever. I love it so much!
sellfreelions
This really is one of the most beautiful songs ever.
Pine
It’s about to be 2020, and this songs still touches me deeply
Yukon
one of their best songs..
Robert Ransom Music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeAsW8G8tWgXSac46V27c6w
Adriano Lima
I just miss this kind of music in these souless days
javier perez
The words, the music, the moves!!! Great band that connects you with everything when you listen to them, at least that's what I feel. It's like i time travel with them.
TheCameron013
My heart just melted into a puddle.
John Saling
my puddle sublimated to this
marco arroyo
Makes my Heart Ache in a good way..Lets me know that I'm still alive.