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.
Death Drive
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A holiday, to fall away
Damn it feels good to drive
All the way, in every lane
Do you know just what I do
For you
Do you know just what I do
You could let it slide
Leave me in the back seat
Unidentified
I don't want to be
Bodily
When autumn leaves
I don't know if I'm doing it wrong
I don't know but it's taking a long time
I did a line from a script that I wrote
I felt the words in the back of my throat
Slide away
Ride away
It's not me that disappears
The others go and my will is clear
I glow
I glow
Do you know just what I do
For you
Do you know just what I do
For you
The song 'Death Drive' by Islands can be interpreted as a metaphor for a self-destructive and reckless lifestyle that the singer wishes to indulge in. The lyrics describe the singer going for a reckless drive, fueled by a sense of freedom and excitement. The lines, "Gonna take a ride, A holiday to fall away, Damn it feels good to drive, All the way, in every lane" suggest a feeling of release and a desire to escape the monotony of everyday life. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is grappling with inner turmoil and uncertainty. The lines, "I don't know if I'm doing it wrong, I don't know but it's taking a long time, I did a line from a script that I wrote, I felt the words in the back of my throat" imply that the singer is engaging in risky behavior without fully understanding the consequences.
The chorus, "Do you know just what I do for you?" can be interpreted in several ways. It could be the singer addressing someone they love, asking if they understand the sacrifices they are making for them. It could also be seen as a cry for help, as if the singer is asking for someone to understand their pain and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna take a ride
I am going on a journey
A holiday, to fall away
This journey is a break from my usual life
Damn it feels good to drive
I feel good about taking control of the vehicle
All the way, in every lane
I will be driving through all different types of routes
Do you know just what I do
For you
Do you understand the efforts I put in for you?
You could let it slide
You could ignore what I'm doing
Leave me in the back seat
Unidentified
You could forget about my existence and my role
I don't want to be
Bodily
When autumn leaves
I don't want my physical body to be present when the season changes to fall
I don't know if I'm doing it wrong
I'm not sure if I'm making the right decisions
I don't know but it's taking a long time
I'm not aware of the progress and it seems like it's taking too long
I did a line from a script that I wrote
I followed my own instructions
I felt the words in the back of my throat
I experienced the feeling of uttering those words
Slide away
Leave the situation behind
Ride away
Go away on a vehicle
It's not me that disappears
I am not leaving, but others are
The others go and my will is clear
The others are leaving, and I have made my intentions clear
I glow
I am shining brightly
Do you know just what I do
For you
Do you understand the efforts I put in for you?
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.