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.
In the Rushes
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knelt down to get a better view
Of what grew there
Well, what grew there?
Scared, heard a terrible sound
Lay down, played dead
That's when I heard it clearer
You could walk around forever
And never notice me
A little closer in the rushes
Hiding down among the reeds
A seed, a seed
A seed, a seed
Oh, oh
I swallowed
It digested quick
But not enough to not make me sick
I lost it
It tasted like a light
Going off inside my mind
La la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La
Then suddenly I was out of harm's way
Forgetting the desire to remember
Trans tourist vanished
Finished damaged playback
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
Then I coughed up blood
Scraped it off my tongue
Sucked it off my thumb
And it was rotten
Oh, ooh
Care to care
I knelt down but you weren't there anymore
I was pushed into a bush
In the rushes on the screen
It was all acting
Cellos, cellos, cellos, cellos
Cellos, cellos, cellos, cellos
Cellos, cellos, cellos, cellos
Cellos, cellos, cellos, cellos
I can't believe it
Believe that I had seen it
Remembered who was in my arms
Remembered when I had arms
It's like a dream
The way that it unfolded
Like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
I kissed it but I must admit
I missed it now I do forget
Like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
You are forgotten
You've been forgotten
You are forgotten
You've been forgotten
You are forgotten
You are forgotten
You are forgotten
You are forgotten
You are forgotten
You are forgotten
You're all forgotten
The song "In the Rushes" by Islands is a complex and multi-layered piece of music that explores themes of identity, memory, and the nature of reality itself. The lyrics describe the singer's experiences while walking through a field of rushes, including hearing a mysterious voice and consuming a seed. The seed has a strange effect on the singer's mind, causing them to feel as if they are unraveling and losing their sense of self. They also experience vivid hallucinations and begin to doubt their own memories and perceptions.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of unease and disorientation that is reflected in the fragmented and surreal lyrics. The repeated use of the phrase "in the rushes" creates a dreamlike atmosphere, as if the singer is exploring a hidden realm that exists just beyond the surface of reality. The imagery of seeds, reeds, and rushes suggest themes of growth, decay, and transformation, as well as the cyclical nature of time and memory.
Overall, "In the Rushes" is a haunting and thought-provoking song that invites listeners to explore their own ideas about the nature of reality and the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
Barefoot, passing through
Walking through the area without shoes
I knelt down to get a better view
Kneeling down to see more clearly
Of what grew there
Viewing the plants and vegetation
Well, what grew there?
Wondering about the types of plants growing there
Scared, heard a terrible sound
Feeling frightened by a noise
Lay down, played dead
Pretending to be dead to avoid danger
That's when I heard it clearer
Hearing the sound more distinctly
In the rushes a voice said:
A voice was heard from the reeds
You could walk around forever
It's possible to walk around endlessly
And never notice me
Without ever noticing the person or thing
A little closer in the rushes
Approaching the reeds
Hiding down among the reeds
Concealed within the plants and vegetation
A seed, a seed
Repeatedly saying the word 'seed'
Oh, oh
Exclaiming in surprise or excitement
I swallowed
Taking something into the body through the mouth
It digested quick
The consumed item broke down quickly in the body
But not enough to not make me sick
Causing an upset stomach despite quick digestion
I lost it
Vomiting or ridding the body of the consumed item
It tasted like a light
A sensory comparison between the taste and light
Going off inside my mind
The taste caused a sudden reaction or realization
La la la la la...
Singing nonsensical words
Then suddenly I was out of harm's way
No longer in danger or at risk
Forgetting the desire to remember
No longer needing to recall something
Trans tourist vanished
A transgendered traveler disappeared
Finished damaged playback
A conclusion to a defective recording
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
Losing composure or control in an uncomfortable situation
Then I coughed up blood
Returning blood from the throat to the mouth
Scraped it off my tongue
Removing blood using the tongue
Sucked it off my thumb
Using the thumb to remove blood from the tongue
And it was rotten
The blood had a foul smell, taste, or appearance
Care to care
The desire to show concern or care for someone/something
I knelt down but you weren't there anymore
Attempting to reach out to someone who has left or disappeared
I was pushed into a bush
Being forcefully shoved into vegetation
In the rushes on the screen
Seeing something on a digital display
It was all acting
The display was only a performance or false representation
Cellos, cellos, cellos...
Repeating the word 'cellos'
I can't believe it
A sense of disbelief or shock
Believe that I had seen it
Feeling certain about an experience
Remembered who was in my arms
Recalling who was being held or embraced
Remembered when I had arms
Recalling a time when the artist had the use of their arms
It's like a dream
A resemblance between reality and a dream-like state
The way that it unfolded
The manner in which something occurred
Like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
Having been present in the area but unaware of it
I kissed it but I must admit
Expressing a confession about an action
I missed it now I do forget
Forgetting and no longer wishing for something previously missed
You are forgotten
The feeling of being neglected or ignored
You've been forgotten
Being ignored or overlooked by others
You're all forgotten
The collective disregard or oversight of a group or a subject
Contributed by Mateo S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.