Islands is an indie rock band formed in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a… Read Full Bio ↴Islands is an indie rock band formed in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and currently based in Los Angeles, California

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.

j'aime vous voir quitter
Islands Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You said you had my back
But I was attacked by a pack of dogs frothing at the mouth
Stabbed in the face
Glass in my guts
Crash! Passed in the passenger's side you were drunk
And falling, falling, falling down
You were falling, falling down

J'aime j'aime j'aime, partez-vous?
Such a shame shame shame, shame on you
J'aime j'aime j'aime, partez-vous?
But can I blame, blame, blame
Blame you?

You cut your feet on the glass
In the grass
Shards got stuck in the past
When the footprints you left didn't last
I threw you a bone
But you bit one of my own
I'm gonna do it without it
It's appalling
Appalling how short your hair can go
When it was good, you let it grow
I know there's a problem
When you gave up
You were gone

J'aime j'aime j'aime, partez-vous?
Such a shame shame shame, shame on you
J'aime j'aime j'aime, partez-vous?
But can I blame, blame, blame
Blame you?

You said you had my back
But I was attacked by a pack of dogs frothing at the mouth
Stabbed in the face

Glass in my guts
Crash, passed in the passenger's side, you were drunk

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Islands' song "j'aime vous voir quitter" showcase a relationship that has experienced some strain and is now nearing its end. The song begins with the singer expressing betrayal by claiming that the person who was supposed to have their back has instead left them vulnerable to an attack. This attack appears to have physically harmed the singer as they were stabbed in the face and had glass in their gut. The next line, "Crash! Passed in the passenger's side you were drunk," suggests that the person who was supposed to protect them was instead intoxicated and in no position to do so. Here, the use of repetition in the line "falling, falling, falling down" emphasizes the person's lack of control as they were unable to be present for their partner. The lyrics present a stark contrast between the trust and expectations the singer had of their partner and the reality of their actions.

The chorus takes on a different melody, with the singer asking if their partner is leaving and expressing shame but also questioning whether they can actually blame their partner for the breakdown of the relationship. There seems to be frustration and disappointment in the partner's actions throughout the song, for instance, "You cut your feet on the glass in the grass/ Shards got stuck in the past/ When the footprints you left didn't last." The person who was supposed to help them heal is instead causing harm, and the relationship's memories are becoming painful. They try to help their partner, but it doesn't seem to work as intended, "I threw you a bone/ But you bit one of my own." Overall, the song portrays a disheartening experience of relationship breakdown and speaks to the difficulty of accepting a partner's agency even when their choices and actions cause pain.

Line by Line Meaning

You said you had my back
You claimed to support me

But I was attacked by a pack of dogs frothing at the mouth
Instead, I was left vulnerable and attacked by my enemies

Stabbed in the face
As a result, I was physically harmed and injured

Glass in my guts
I suffered internal injuries as well

Crash! Passed in the passenger's side you were drunk
You were reckless and endangered us while under the influence

And falling, falling, falling down
You were not reliable and were struggling personally

You were falling, falling down
Your situation was deteriorating

J'aime j'aime j'aime, partez-vous?
I like, I like, I like, are you leaving?

Such a shame shame shame, shame on you
Your actions are disgraceful and you should feel ashamed

But can I blame, blame, blame Blame you?
Although I am angry, I am uncertain if I can solely hold you responsible

You cut your feet on the glass
You were also hurt in the same incident