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.
This Is Not A Song
Islands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In many circle ways i already don't have anything
I hate to watch you ooh
Make it if you ever learn it never shows
This is not a sound
So why do i find it so hard to move home
Is a crime to be crying for this long
In other atmosphere my head come lose
And in the free fall i can feel the blues
I hate to watch you go ooh
And if you ever learn it never show
If this is just a song
Then why do i find it's so hard to move on
Is a crime to be crying for this long
The lyrics to Islands' song "This Is Not A Song" are open to interpretation. However, it seems to be a melancholic reflection on loss and heartbreak. The first two lines suggest that the singer has already lost everything, or at least feels like they have lost everything. They are worried that if they lose even a penny, everything will be gone. The line "I hate to watch you make it if you ever learn it never shows" implies that the singer is envious of someone who has been successful and wishes that they had similar success. However, they believe that even if they were to learn how to be successful, it would not be enough to change their circumstances.
The chorus shifts the focus to the singer's difficulty of moving on from their current situation. They ask why it is so hard to move home when "this is not a sound" - suggesting that they may not have a physical home to return to or that they do not feel like they belong anywhere. They view the act of crying for so long as a "crime" - perhaps indicating that they feel guilty for their despair, or that they feel that they should have moved on by now.
The second verse continues with the theme of feeling lost in different atmospheres, with the line "in the free fall I can feel the blues" suggesting a sense of falling or being out of control. The line "I hate to watch you go" may be interpreted as the singer's fear of losing someone or something important to them - like they have already lost everything else. The singer again suggests that even if the person they are addressing were to try to help or show them how to succeed, it "never shows" - meaning that the singer is so deeply entrenched in their despair that nothing seems to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
If penny, away i will lost everything
If I lose even a penny, I'll lose everything I have
In many circle ways i already don't have anything
I feel like I have nothing in many different ways
I hate to watch you ooh
I don't want to witness your actions or behavior
Make it if you ever learn it never shows
Even if you think you've learned to do something, you never actually show it
This is not a sound
This is not a real or tangible thing
So why do i find it so hard to move home
Why is it so difficult for me to return to where I belong?
Is a crime to be crying for this long
It feels like a wrongdoing to cry for such an extended period of time
In other atmosphere my head come lose
In a different environment, my mind becomes confused and scattered
And in the free fall i can feel the blues
I feel sad and lost when I'm falling without any control
If this is just a song
If this is just a work of entertainment
Then why do i find it's so hard to move on
Why is it so challenging to let go of this song?
Is a crime to be crying for this long
It feels like a wrongdoing to cry for such an extended period of time
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NICHOLAS SHANAHAN THORBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Montgomery
I love this band , with all my heart, and the unicorns. I would do anything to meet them and lay down a track.
FKi
literally just discovered their album yesterday and I must say, I'm very impressed. Some of the most laid back and soulful music I've heard to date.
Savannah Saldana
i love his voice, i can easily recognize it. i was in Pacsun and heard a song and thought 'oh yeah, this is islands' and then i smiled
Alex K
Beautiful song!
Brenna Pritchard
Yes, this does sound like Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, but it takes on its own sound after the intro AND I love it anyway. Still one of my favorite bands.
Ellen
i love this band
Nicole Hamlett
I love this song. That is all.
Trevor Shirk
I like this. It's different. Shows they're trying some new stuff, which is always good for bands to do. I'm sure the album will be awesome.
Mrbuzzfuzz
I love their new direction!
Flippa Phil
I love this song.