Islander is an American alternative metal band from Greenville, South Carol… Read Full Bio ↴Islander is an American alternative metal band from Greenville, South Carolina. The members have been playing together since 2006; they broke up for a few years, and got together under the name Islander in 2011. The group signed with Victory Records and have released an EP, Pains (2013), and a studio album, Violence & Destruction (2014).

Victory Records signed the band in September of 2013, and soon released their first EP, Pains. Their first studio album, Violence & Destruction, was released the next year. The music's material was generally well received by critic, as the first single off the Violence & Destruction, entitled "Coconut Dracula", has since been a very successful active rock radio hit, as it hit number 24 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The group is currently touring with the Mayhem Festival 2014 tour including label acts Emmure, Ill Niño and Wretched.

Their music is similar to the Deftones, Glassjaw, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, P.O.D., and Rage Against the Machine because musically it is alternative metal and rap metal, all the while, having a nu metal sound featuring the subsets alternative rock, hard rock and post-hardcore. Chino Moreno, Daryl Palumbo, Jonathan Davis, Fred Durst, Chad Gray, Sonny Sandoval, Zack de la Rocha are cited as vocal similarities to Carvajal.

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Glass
Islander Lyrics

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We've learned the art of keeping secrets better than anyone.
Woe.
We've become the clashing cymbal in your ear while you say,
“Woe”.
Our hearts don't bleed like they should. Our hands don't do any good.
So how can I convince anyone of anything? Like…

They bought cheap wine and replaced the tag.

I’m just trying to help you see.
I could spend my time perfecting lines, trying to help you see.

But we shatter like glass all over their hands
and they touch their eyes, they touch their eyes. We shatter like glass!

Our love turns into everything that we like.
We gather our hate in bundles and still try to say…

They bought cheap wine and replaced the tag.
I’m just trying to help you see.
I could spend my time perfecting lines, trying to help you see.

But we shatter like glass all over their hands
and they touch their eyes, they touch their eyes. We shatter like glass!

We've become the white-washed tombs you've heard about.
We are Pharisees, white-washed Pharisees.

We shatter like glass.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Islander's song "Glass" convey a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the way society operates, alongside a sense of resignation that the band themselves are not exempt from the same problems they are criticizing. The opening lines describe a mastery of secrecy, suggesting a feeling of disconnect and disengagement from others. The band then shifts to criticizing society's tendencies towards cheapness and materialism, contrasting this with their own desire to help others see a better way. However, despite this desire for change, they recognize that they themselves are not immune to falling short of their own ideals. This is reflected in the repetition of the phrase "we shatter like glass" throughout the song, creating a sense of fragility and vulnerability.

The song ends with the powerful statement "We are Pharisees, white-washed Pharisees," which can be interpreted as a criticism of religious hypocrisy and superficiality, but could also be applied to any context where someone is acting in a way that conflicts with their stated beliefs or values. Overall, "Glass" is a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on human nature and the struggle for authenticity and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

We've learned the art of keeping secrets better than anyone.
We are experts at keeping secrets.

Woe.
We evoke sorrow and distress.

We've become the clashing cymbal in your ear while you say, “Woe”.
We disrupt your peace and cause discomfort.

Our hearts don't bleed like they should. Our hands don't do any good.
We lack empathy and don't contribute to society.

So how can I convince anyone of anything? Like…
It's hard for me to persuade others because of our flaws.

They bought cheap wine and replaced the tag.
Others are dishonest and try to deceive.

I’m just trying to help you see.
I want to open others' eyes to the truth.

I could spend my time perfecting lines, trying to help you see.
I could improve my communication skills to better convey my message.

But we shatter like glass all over their hands and they touch their eyes, they touch their eyes. We shatter like glass!
Our flaws cause harm to others and ourselves.

Our love turns into everything that we like.
We are self-centered and don't truly love others.

We gather our hate in bundles and still try to say…
We hold onto negative emotions and try to hide them.

We've become the white-washed tombs you've heard about. We are Pharisees, white-washed Pharisees.
We seem righteous on the surface but are hypocritical.

We shatter like glass.
Our flaws and negative qualities cause us to break apart.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Andrew Murphy, Christopher Doot, Eric Frazier, Michael Carvajal

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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