Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Islands is a 6 piece band founded in 2005 by The Unicorns co-founder/songwriter Nick Thorburn (often performing as "Nick Diamonds") and drummer J'Aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of The Unicorns as they teetered on the brink of breaking through, Islands' debut release entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies includes collaborations with members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This debut picks up where The Unicorns left off and takes the music to new heights without departing from The Unicorns' unique if sometimes peculiar appeal.
Islands plays beautiful pop melodies, intertwined with elements of afro-pop, hip hop, and indie rock, among others. One of the main gimmicks of the band is the recorder brought over from The Unicorns, which is prominently featured in the song "Jogging Gorgeous Summer." Nick Diamonds rules over the band with an iron fist. Other members include: Patrice Agbokou, Aaron Harris, Alex Chow, Sebastian Chow, and Patrick Gregoire. Return To the Sea, their rookie effort, was released on April 4th, 2006 on the brand new label, Equator Records, and Rough Trade in the UK. Digital Distribution handled by Alpha Pup.
On May 20, 2008, Islands released its second album, Arm's Way, on Anti- Records.
On September 22, 2009 Islands released their third full length album, Vapours.
On February 14, 2012 Islands released their fourth full length album, A Sleep & A Forgetting.
On September 17, 2013 Islands released their fifth full length album, Ski Mask
On May 13, 2016 Islands released their sixth and seventh full length albums, Should I Remain Here, At Sea? and Taste.
"This Is Not A Song"
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In many circle ways i already don't have anything
I hate to watch you ooh
Make it if you ever learn it never shows
This is not a sound
So why do i find it so hard to move home
Is a crime to be crying for this long
In other atmosphere my head come lose
And in the free fall i can feel the blues
I hate to watch you go ooh
And if you ever learn it never show
If this is just a song
Then why do i find it's so hard to move on
Is a crime to be crying for this long
The lyrics to Islands’ song “This Is Not A Song” have a sense of desperation and loss. The first two lines suggest that the singer has already lost everything, and the mention of “penny” implies that the loss may have been financial. The next lines express frustration at watching someone else succeed, even though they may not “show” how they accomplished it. The chorus reveals the title’s irony – the words themselves may not be a sound, but they still have a powerful emotional impact. The singer finds it hard to move on and may feel guilty for “crying for this long”. The final lines of the second verse suggest a possible reason for the singer’s difficulties – they feel out of place and disoriented, possibly due to a change in location or circumstance. The final lines of the song reaffirm the singer’s sense of guilt and suggest that they may want to move on but are unable to do so.
Overall, the lyrics to “This Is Not A Song” convey a sense of frustration, loss, and stasis. The singer feels trapped in their current situation and unable to move forward. The title’s irony suggests that even though the song may not be a tangible object, its impact on the singer’s emotions is significant. The final line’s mention of guilt reinforces this sense of stuckness and suggests that the singer may need to find a way to forgive themselves and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
If penny, away i will lost everything
If I lose even a penny, I'll lose everything I have
In many circle ways i already don't have anything
I feel like I have nothing in many aspects of my life
I hate to watch you ooh
It hurts me to see you leave
Make it if you ever learn it never shows
Even if you learn how to do something, you never seem to execute it properly
This is not a sound
This isn't a normal situation
So why do i find it so hard to move home
Why is it so difficult for me to move on from this situation?
Is a crime to be crying for this long
It feels as though it's wrong for me to be sad for this amount of time
In other atmosphere my head come lose
In a different environment, I feel like I lose my sense of self
And in the free fall i can feel the blues
When I'm alone, I feel really low and depressed
If this is just a song
If this is just a metaphorical situation
Then why do i find it's so hard to move on
Why is it so difficult for me to move on from this metaphorical situation?
Is a crime to be crying for this long
I feel guilty for feeling sad for so long
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NICHOLAS SHANAHAN THORBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Montgomery
I love this band , with all my heart, and the unicorns. I would do anything to meet them and lay down a track.
FKi
literally just discovered their album yesterday and I must say, I'm very impressed. Some of the most laid back and soulful music I've heard to date.
Savannah Saldana
i love his voice, i can easily recognize it. i was in Pacsun and heard a song and thought 'oh yeah, this is islands' and then i smiled
Alex K
Beautiful song!
Brenna Pritchard
Yes, this does sound like Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, but it takes on its own sound after the intro AND I love it anyway. Still one of my favorite bands.
Ellen
i love this band
Nicole Hamlett
I love this song. That is all.
Trevor Shirk
I like this. It's different. Shows they're trying some new stuff, which is always good for bands to do. I'm sure the album will be awesome.
Mrbuzzfuzz
I love their new direction!
Flippa Phil
I love this song.