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.
No Crying
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sat right down
Listenin' to the saddest song
If I don't feel bad is there something wrong
I sympathize
I synthesized
A teardrop from my tired eyes
And I cannot cry
And I won't cry for you
'Cause I'm not able to
She said I don't mind
Instead think of why
The chorus wept
The bridge caved in
The verses stung your perfect skin
But I don't feel like
It's touched my soul
So I climbed right in
Listenin'
I got so close you'd think I'd been
Haunted by the teary eye
But I won't cry for you
'Cause I'm not able to
She said I don't mind
Instead think of why
I heard your voice sing just one note
The sweetest sound came from your throat
And I think I'll cry just a little while
The song "No Crying" by Islands explores the idea of empathy and the human tendency to feel emotions based on surrounding circumstances. The opening verse establishes the setting - the singer walks into a room and begins listening to a sad song. The next line poses an interesting question, "If I don't feel bad is there something wrong?" This raises the idea that sometimes, we force ourselves into sadness out of empathy or societal expectations. The following lines describe the singer sympathizing with the sad song, shedding a tear, but still not feeling fully sad or able to cry.
The chorus and bridge of the song describe the emotions that are typically elicited from a sad song - weeping and pain, but the singer states that they don't feel connected to these emotions. Instead, the singer climbs into the song, getting as close to it as possible, but still not feeling the full weight of it. However, by the end of the song, the singer hears a voice that moves them, and they "think I'll cry just a little while."
Overall, "No Crying" explores the complexity of emotions and how they are often influenced by the environment we find ourselves in. It speaks to the idea that sometimes, we try so hard to feel something that we end up feeling nothing.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk right in
I entered the situation or scenario with ease.
I sat right down
I took a seat and prepared myself for what was to come.
Listenin' to the saddest song
I was exposed to the most melancholic of sounds.
If I don't feel bad is there something wrong
I question the state of my emotions or lack thereof in this moment.
I sympathize
I understand and feel for the situation at hand.
I synthesized
I created a facsimile of emotion from my own experiences.
A teardrop from my tired eyes
A manifestation of sadness presents itself in my eyes, though I am not necessarily feeling the emotion.
But I don't feel sad
Despite the sad surroundings, I do not resonate with the emotion being presented.
And I cannot cry
The physicality of crying cannot be reached, whether from a lack of emotion or suppression.
She said I don't mind
Another party involved is not bothered by my inability to engage with the emotion at hand.
Instead think of why
An alternative approach is suggested: to understand the source or reason behind the emotion rather than force an emotional response.
The chorus wept
The collective voice of the song was filled with sorrow and melancholy.
The bridge caved in
The transition between parts of the song were significant in their emotional impact, perhaps even causing the listener to break down.
The verses stung your perfect skin
The words or meaning of the song presented the listener with deep-seated pain or sorrow that may have resonated with their own experiences.
But I don't feel like
Despite being exposed to such emotional depth, it does not affect me quite the same way.
It's touched my soul
Though not necessarily affecting me on an emotional level, I acknowledge and appreciate the impact of the music and its message.
So I climbed right in
I fully immersed myself in the music and its message.
Listenin'
Continuing to soak up the song's message.
I got so close you'd think I'd been
I was so emotionally present and invested that it would seem as though I was directly experiencing the emotions of the music.
Haunted by the teary eye
The visual of a teary eye lingers in my mind and thoughts.
I heard your voice sing just one note
The voice behind the music struck a chord within my being with even the simplest of notes.
The sweetest sound came from your throat
The voice behind the music exuded a level of sweetness that was not present in the sad context of the song.
And I think I'll cry just a little while
Though the emotional response is not as overt, it is still present and lingering within me as I contemplate the music's message.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NICHOLAS SHANAHAN THORBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind