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.
Bucky Little Wing
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But didn’t stop to pick him up that day even though he was late
We drove by
A year later my family moved, he moved to the same town far away
We became friends, smoked cigs, played ball together in all kinds of weather
We worked on our jump shot
His name was Charles, he was my friend
We got along, but in the end
Bucky little wing, you flew away
It was tough being weak, while Bucky was strong
His daddy died in a car wreck
And I got sick of being pushed around
Standing my ground when Bucky had my back
Hiding in a bush and it’s okay
We started rolling with a different crew
Before I knew it we drifted to
Bucky little wing you flew away
Once some racist kids, this is what I heard, pushed him underneath a moving truck
It swerved but got his head on accident
They ran like devils in the night
Word was he died. I didn’t cry but oh, oh how I tried
Monday came and he did too, so he didn’t die
Just some violet bruises and one shut eye
Can’t believe that he survived, he was like a ghost after that day
But he was just so mighty you might say
His name was Charles, he was my friend
We got along but in the end
Bucky little wing you flew away
Bucky little wing you flew away
The song "Bucky Little Wing" by Islands tells the story of a friendship between the singer and a boy named Charles, who goes by the nickname Bucky. The song describes how the singer and Bucky first met, how they became friends, and how their relationship evolved over time. Despite the hardships they faced, including Bucky's father dying in a car wreck and a violent encounter with some racist kids, the two boys remained close. However, as they got older, they began to drift apart and eventually, Bucky moved away.
The song's title, "Bucky Little Wing," is a reference to Bucky's persevering spirit, despite the challenges he faced. The lyrics describe how Bucky was like a bird with a broken wing that persisted in flying, despite the odds against it. The song is a poignant and moving tribute to a friendship that, despite its ups and downs, endured over time. It is a reminder of the power of human connection and the ways in which our relationships shape and sustain us throughout our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Passed him by a long time ago
I once saw Bucky but didn't stop to help him despite him being late.
We drove by
I was in a car with others when we passed by Bucky without helping him.
A year later my family moved, he moved to the same town far away
After a year, my family and I moved to a different town where Bucky also moved to.
We became friends, smoked cigs, played ball together in all kinds of weather
Bucky and I became friends, we spent time together smoking cigarettes, playing basketball in any weather.
We worked on our jump shot
We practiced shooting basketball together to improve our skills.
Bucky little wing, you flew away
Bucky left, maybe moved to a different place, without saying goodbye.
His name was Charles, he was my friend
Bucky's real name was Charles, and we were good friends.
We got along, but in the end
Despite our friendship, things didn't end well between us.
It was tough being weak, while Bucky was strong
I struggled to keep up with Bucky because he was much stronger than me.
His daddy died in a car wreck
Bucky's father passed away in a car accident.
And I got sick of being pushed around
I didn't like how Bucky treated me, like he was always pushing me around.
Standing my ground when Bucky had my back
I finally stood up for myself when Bucky supported me.
Hiding in a bush and it’s okay
I was hiding behind a bush, but it was okay because Bucky had my back.
We started rolling with a different crew
We started hanging out with a different group of people.
Before I knew it we drifted to
We gradually moved apart from each other and drifted away.
Once some racist kids, this is what I heard, pushed him underneath a moving truck
I heard that some racist children pushed Bucky under a moving truck.
It swerved but got his head on accident
The truck swerved to avoid hitting Bucky, but his head was accidentally hit.
They ran like devils in the night
The kids who pushed Bucky away ran away quickly and carelessly.
Word was he died. I didn’t cry but oh, oh how I tried
I heard rumors that Bucky died, and I wanted to cry but couldn't.
Monday came and he did too, so he didn’t die
Bucky appeared on Monday, which meant he didn't die.
Just some violet bruises and one shut eye
Bucky had some bruises and a shut eye from the incident.
Can’t believe that he survived, he was like a ghost after that day
I couldn't believe that Bucky survived because he looked like a ghost after the incident.
But he was just so mighty you might say
Despite the incident, Bucky was strong and powerful.
Bucky little wing, you flew away
Bucky left again, maybe this time for good, without saying a proper goodbye.
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.