Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone
Islands Lyrics


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The morning I set sail on a whalebone
the gale. force winds made the sky grow
and I was far out in the ocean
when I cut the roof of my mouth on the potion
down down down went the femur
I let my backbone slide in the ether
laying low in a tropical hideout
if anyone finds out; I'll turn their lights out

subtitle: where there's a will there's a whalebone (way to go) you'll never know
I set sail that morning and I may not come back know lay low
in a hideout just to bust you- tropical
it's neurotic and exotic
with yet another broke down (bone) incidental
not accidental
when facts track the mental
even within movement they know, even with the solitary movement
words get arranged for maximum deployment
words mean will
where there's a whalebone then there's a
tale gone wrong
young gang on a boat
it's the same song
same quote
nature stretches it out note by note
It'S a new state, you don't know the nomenclature, the governor has status with
the cutting apparatus
and that is half the battle
they can't think of how to absorb us, they can't thing of how to solve me
let's see
a cancerous mix of young pirates for kicks- signed,
seated C.(L.)(T.)G.
in congealed blood
this is all on the surreal
don't appeal to the side where the law resides
after all that, it's a separatist homicide
rappers try to cultivate carbon monoxide
you tried to get entranced by the folks that try to get us by hap-happenstance.

busdriver: frame our press shots with a whale sternum
and a dolphin femur, band breather lab tech with a solvent
in a broken beaker, yell in boom mics and moonlight as a coffin cleaner
then poolside I food fight with Hollywood anorexics
I'm in a crew of pallbearers and ambidextrous foosball players
we got pool hall flair, remove all layers of industry pretension
and augmented physical attributes
because I'm blanketed in nude doll hair
but with these styles we're shrewd on-air
so we've been annexed to an annexed isle
by the radio programmer, half - man reptile
that church of satin bible study tutor choir boy
prefers the works that are uninspired and coy
but uhh Driver's ploy is to show a lot of follow through
wearing a monocle coming out a fiery void
collecting style in rental late fees
they never return it after the test drive
infatuated by a robots breast size
we ain't entertained by balloon animals
marooned on our tropical safe haven
everyday is a paid vacation

In the evening I arrived on a wishbone
so I wished all the stars would go home
but one was a dog with its tail drawn
it wagged (laughed) as it shed, now its long gone
I remember the flavour
but I made a choice to stay here




laying low in a tropical hide-out
if anyone finds out, I'll turn their lights out

Overall Meaning

The song "Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone" by Islands is an intricate story of a person's journey exploring the unknown sea and nature's ways. The lyrics contain numerous metaphors and wordplay, leaving the interpretation up to the listener's interpretation.


The song's first verse sets the scene of the singer setting sail on a whalebone amid strong winds, going further into the ocean, and injuring themselves while drinking some toxic substance. The lyrics contain a reference to a femur and backbone, which may symbolize strength, but turned to ether and dissolved, indicating how easily strength can be lost. The singer retreats to a hideout as they realize their actions may have consequences.


The subtitle of the song "Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone" speaks to the singer's determination to find adventure, but considering the dangers that come with it as well. The line "you'll never know" suggests that taking risks can lead to various outcomes, positive or negative. The verse mentions pirates, an exotic lifestyle, and attempts at civilization domination.


The final verse references a wishbone instead of a whalebone, which the singer arrived on during the evening. The singer wishes for the stars to go home, but one star stays behind in the form of a dog, who eventually disappeared. The flavor mentioned earlier may symbolize memories, and the choice to stay in the hideout may mean the singer chooses their safety and comfort over further adventures.


Line by Line Meaning

The morning I set sail on a whalebone
I set out sailing one morning on a makeshift boat made of bones.


the gale. force winds made the sky grow
Strong winds caused the sky to darken and storm.


and I was far out in the ocean
I was sailing deep into the sea.


when I cut the roof of my mouth on the potion
I hurt my mouth while trying to drink something on the boat.


down down down went the femur
One of the bones in my boat sank down into the water.


I let my backbone slide in the ether
I relaxed and let myself drift off in the peaceful environment.


laying low in a tropical hideout
I'm staying hidden in a secret place in the tropics.


if anyone finds out; I'll turn their lights out
If anyone discovers where I am, I'll take forceful actions to stop them.


subtitle: where there's a will there's a whalebone (way to go) you'll never know
The song's title implies that where there's determination, anything is possible, even using a whalebone as a boat. We can't guess what might happen in any situation.


it's neurotic and exotic
The situation is unsettling and unusual.


with yet another broke down (bone) incidental
Another broken bone is an unavoidable occurrence.


not accidental
The bone break wasn't on purpose or planned.


when facts track the mental
When thoughts follow closely behind facts.


even within movement they know, even with the solitary movement
Even when one is alone, they can't get away from their thoughts.


words get arranged for maximum deployment
The artist arranges his words to have the most impact.


words mean will
Words convey willpower or determination.


where there's a whalebone then there's a tale gone wrong
The use of a whalebone as a boat may seem like a good idea, but it can have disastrous consequences.


young gang on a boat
A group of youngsters on a boat.


it's the same song
A repetition of the same events happening over and over again.


same quote
A similar saying that has already been said before.


nature stretches it out note by note
Life plays out in a slow, gradual way like a piece of music.


It'S a new state, you don't know the nomenclature
It's a new environment or situation, and the new words used in the setting are unfamiliar to you.


the governor has status with the cutting apparatus
The person in charge can control and make changes with the resources available.


and that is half the battle
Having resources and control over them is half the struggle.


they can't think of how to absorb us, they can't thing of how to solve me
Others can't figure out how to deal with us or solve the problems we face.


let's see
Let's find out what will happen next.


a cancerous mix of young pirates for kicks- signed, seated C.(L.)(T.)G.
A dangerous combination of young people acting like pirates just for their amusement. Signed by someone using the initials C.L.T.G.


in congealed blood
The blood has thickened and congealed.


this is all on the surreal
The situation seems unreal or bizarre.


don't appeal to the side where the law resides
Don't rely on the law and order to fix everything.


after all that, it's a separatist homicide
After all the previous events, someone has been killed.


rappers try to cultivate carbon monoxide
Some rappers try to create negativity instead of positivity in their music.


you tried to get entranced by the folks that try to get us by hap-happenstance.
You tried to get involved with a group that just happened to be there without thinking it through.


busdriver: frame our press shots with a whale sternum
Busdriver is suggesting that they use a whale's bones as a frame for their press photos.


and a dolphin femur, band breather lab tech with a solvent in a broken beaker
They want to add a dolphin's bone to the mix and they are envisioning a band member taking a deep breath before performing a lab experiment with a solvent in a broken beaker.


yell in boom mics and moonlight as a coffin cleaner
They want to shout into the microphone and then work as a coffin cleaner at night.


then poolside I food fight with Hollywood anorexics
After that, they want to have a food fight with Hollywood celebrities who are too thin.


I'm in a crew of pallbearers and ambidextrous foosball players
They are part of a group who can carry a coffin and play foosball with both hands equally well.


we got pool hall flair, remove all layers of industry pretension and augmented physical attributes
They have the style and confidence of someone who frequents pool halls, and don't need to impress anyone or modify their physical appearance to fit in.


because I'm blanketed in nude doll hair
They are completely surrounded by naked doll hair.


but with these styles we're shrewd on-air
Despite their unconventional appearance, they are confident in their style and how they present themselves on-air.


so we've been annexed to an annexed isle
They've been added to an already inhabited area.


by the radio programmer, half - man reptile
The person who added them is described as if they are part-man, part-reptile.


that church of satin bible study tutor choir boy
The person who added them is also a religious figure, perhaps even a choir boy.


prefers the works that are uninspired and coy
The religious figure likes things that are unoriginal and secretive.


but uhh Driver's ploy is to show a lot of follow through wearing a monocle coming out a fiery void
Busdriver's strategy is to demonstrate conviction and commitment, looking like a bold vision coming out of nowhere.


collecting style in rental late fees
They are earning a style that can't be bought by paying the fees for something that is past due.


they never return it after the test drive
The thing they are renting is never returned after it is tried out.


infatuated by a robots breast size
Someone is enamored by the size of a robot's breasts.


we ain't entertained by balloon animals
They aren't amused by simple things like balloon animals.


marooned on our tropical safe haven
They are stuck on their isolated island paradise.


everyday is a paid vacation
Every day feels like a vacation even though they aren't working and are stuck on the island.


In the evening I arrived on a wishbone
I arrived somewhere at night on a bone that I hoped would bring me luck.


so I wished all the stars would go home
I wanted to be the only one out at night, and wished the stars would disappear.


but one was a dog with its tail drawn
But one of the stars looked like a dog with its tail between its legs.


it wagged (laughed) as it shed, now its long gone
The 'dog' laughed as it disappeared.


I remember the flavour
I remember the taste of something I had earlier.


but I made a choice to stay here
Despite my previous experiences, I decided to remain where I am now.


laying low in a tropical hide-out
I am still hiding in a secret location in the tropics.


if anyone finds out, I'll turn their lights out
I'm serious about not wanting to be found and will resort to violence if necessary.




Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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