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.
08 Rough Gem
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You worked hard, died more
You mined what you died for
Diamonds di di di di di uh
You can whistle my name
It's the mines, in Africa
That are to blame
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain
I've been awake from the first day
Stayed awake, stayed awake
The rabbit (?) the whole moon
Longer, short road
Dig deep but don't dig too deep
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
They want me raw and smooth like glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
I'm a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem
who lives in those lights in the distance?
Watered down, the rain will help you out
I had a dream, it was all a dream
But it was ruined by the sun shining in through me
(originally transcribed by here and here by Langdon and edited by Langdon, Bunnyavenger, davidsmind, Ben, cirquetron, CiroccoJones and Silverdown)
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The lyrics of Islands' song "08 Rough Gem" seem to be discussing the exploitation and harsh conditions faced by miners, particularly those mining for diamonds in Africa. The opening lines suggest that despite efforts to attain something positive, the world has beaten the singer down. The repetition of "diamonds di di di di di uh" emphasizes the importance and value placed on these gems, while also highlighting the repetitive and exhausting nature of the work that goes into procuring them.
The second verse brings up the idea of someone whistling the singer's name, but in the context of the mines and the blame that lies there. The line "scoop out my brain, shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain" suggests a willingness to listen and empathize with the struggles of others. The use of "raw and smooth like glass" adds to the overall theme of the value placed on appearance and perfection, and the expectation to quickly produce results without flaws.
The chorus, with the line "I'm a girl's best friend, can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem," flips the usual association of diamonds being a girl's best friend by turning the focus to the singer themselves as a rough and unpolished but valuable entity. The final lines of the song indicate that the singer had a dream that may have been hopeful or optimistic, but it was ruined by the harsh reality of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
The world beat you for the something nice
You faced hardships despite trying to accomplish something good in life
You worked hard, died more
You put in a lot of effort, even to the point of exhaustion or death
You mined what you died for
You labored to extract something valuable from the ground, even if it cost you your life
Diamonds di di di di di uh
Diamonds, a symbol of wealth and status, are being mentioned repeatedly
You can whistle my name
You can call out to me and I will respond
It's the mines, in Africa
The root cause of suffering and exploitation is the mining industry in Africa
That are to blame
They are responsible for the harm and injustice inflicted on workers and communities
You can Scoop out my brain
You can try to persuade or influence me, but I will resist
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain
If you want to share your struggles or sufferings with me, do so honestly and openly
I've been awake from the first day
I have been aware and conscious of my surroundings since my birth
Stayed awake, stayed awake
I have remained alert and attentive throughout my life
The rabbit (?) the whole moon
The artist may be referring to a fable or metaphor about ambition, where a rabbit tries to eat the entire moon
Longer, short road
There are different paths in life, some longer and more difficult than others
Dig deep but don't dig too deep
You should try to explore and understand things more deeply, but not to the point of harm or danger
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
If you wait too long to address a problem or situation, it may be too late and have dire consequences
They want me raw and smooth like glass
Society or others may want the artist to conform and be flawless, like a polished piece of glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
People may demand speed and efficiency, but not tolerate imperfections or mistakes
I'm a girl's best friend
The singer is referencing the saying that diamonds are a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem
The singer is resilient and strong, even though they may not conform to society's standards of beauty or perfection
who lives in those lights in the distance?
The artist is curious about the people or events taking place far away
Watered down, the rain will help you out
If something is diluted or weakened, natural forces such as rain may restore or replenish it
I had a dream, it was all a dream
The artist had an imaginary or unrealistic vision of the future, which may not come true
But it was ruined by the sun shining in through me
Reality or the truth may sometimes intrude and spoil our illusions or fantasies
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: THORBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind