Young also records under the names Sky Sailing, Port Blue, Color Therapy, Insect Airport, Seagull Orchestra and his own name, Adam Young.
Young started out making music in 2007 in his basement in his hometown of Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, later developing a following through his MySpace profile before being signed to Universal Republic. Young has released seven albums under the Owl City moniker: "Maybe I'm Dreaming" (2008), "Ocean Eyes" (2009), "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (2011), "The Midsummer Station" (2012), "Mobile Orchestra" (2015), "Cinematic" (2018), and "Coco Moon" (2023). Young's 2009 single "Fireflies" reached #1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and The Netherlands. His second major hit, 2012's "Good Time" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen reached #8 in the US and #1 in New Zealand.
He was also once a member of Windsor Airlift and Swimming with Dolphins, both of which he is no longer involved with.
Madeline Island
Owl City Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we jumped in the truck
North bound on I-35
Before the sun came up
We stopped for lunch in Kanow Park
Passing through the Duluth
Rolled into Bayfield, Wisconsin
Madeline Island
We left our cares on the mainland
Boarded a ferry boat
We saw La Pointe for the first time
And we felt right at home
Drove out to Big Bay State Park
Picked out our campsite
We settled in underneath the stars
And there we were
Out there in the great Lake Superior
Right across the bay
We sat back, put our feet up and there we were
Half a world away
Where the waves turned the cliffs into sea caves
With every passing day
It was all a blur, but there we were
On Madeline Island
Madeline Island
We left our shadows on the lake shore
We soaked up all the sights
About drowned in a downpour
But for the northern lights
We shot the breeze under pine trees
And sat around the fire
We hit the hay beneath the Milky Way
And there we were
Out there in the great Lake Superior
Right across the bay
We sat back, put our feet up and there we were
Half a world away
Where the waves turned the cliffs into sea caves
With every passing day
It was all a blur, but there we were
On Madeline Island
Out there in the great Lake Superior
Right across the bay
We sat back, put our feet up and there we were
Half a world away
Where the waves turned the cliffs into sea caves
With every passing day
It was all a blur, but there we were
On Madeline Island
Madeline Island
There we were on Madeline Island
We made a memory
That will always last
But we went on that trip
Just the three and back
"Madeline Island" by Owl City tells the story of a road trip to a Wisconsin island named Madeline Island. The lyrics describe the journey in detail, from the purchase of camping gear to the final memories made before returning home. The lyrics evoke a sense of adventure, freedom, and appreciation for nature.
The song begins with the purchase of camping gear and the start of the journey before the sun rises. They make a stop for lunch in Kanow Park while passing through Duluth before finally arriving at Bayfield, Wisconsin, where the ferry to Madeline Island awaits them. The island is described as a distant, dream-like destination where they feel right at home. They set up camp at Big Bay State Park and spend their time exploring the island's beauty, from the sea caves formed by waves to the northern lights. The song concludes with the realization that the time spent on the island was a cherished memory that would last a lifetime.
Overall, "Madeline Island" captures the essence of a road trip and the joy of exploring nature. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the journey while emphasizing that the trip itself is just as important as the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
We bought a tent and some sleeping bags
We planned an adventurous trip
And we jumped in the truck
And started our journey in our vehicle
North bound on I-35
Heading towards the North on the Interstate 35
Before the sun came up
We left early in the morning
We stopped for lunch in Kanow Park
We took a break and had lunch at Kanow Park
Passing through the Duluth
While driving through Duluth
Rolled into Bayfield, Wisconsin
We arrived at Bayfield, Wisconsin
And there she was
And there it was - Madeline Island
We left our cares on the mainland
We left our worries behind on the main land
Boarded a ferry boat
We took a ferry to reach Madeline Island
We saw La Pointe for the first time
We saw La Pointe for the first time while on the ferry
And we felt right at home
And we felt comfortable and welcome
Drove out to Big Bay State Park
We drove to Big Bay State Park
Picked out our campsite
We chose our spot for camping
We settled in underneath the stars
We set ourselves up for camping under the starry sky
And there we were
And we were there, enjoying the moment
Out there in the great Lake Superior
We were in the vast Lake Superior
Right across the bay
Just across the bay from where we anchored our boat
We sat back, put our feet up and there we were
We relaxed and enjoyed the calmness of the moment
Half a world away
Feeling like a world apart from our usual routine
Where the waves turned the cliffs into sea caves
Where the strong waves created caves in the cliffs
With every passing day
As time passed by
It was all a blur, but there we were
Everything felt somewhat hazy yet we were still there
On Madeline Island
On the beautiful Madeline Island
We left our shadows on the lake shore
We left our impressions on the beach
We soaked up all the sights
We absorbed all the beautiful scenery around us
About drowned in a downpour
We had a close call with a heavy rainfall
But for the northern lights
But we were lucky enough to see the northern lights
We shot the breeze under pine trees
We chatted and hung out under the pine trees
And sat around the fire
We huddled around the fire
We hit the hay beneath the Milky Way
We slept under the starry night sky
There we were
We were there, experiencing the wilderness
We made a memory
We created a beautiful memory
That will always last
That will be with us forever
But we went on that trip
But we took that journey
Just the three and back
Just us three and then returning back
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jordan Sweeto
The chorus is dang catchy in this one!! Can see it being really great live!
balls
I can't get this chorus out of my head...
MADELINE ISLANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
balls
I am thee person who told you who I was today
Bella Boone
Jordan Sweeto I live theirrrr
Clair Whitelight Douglas
Who are you mr.duck
balls
I live there too!!!
Infinite Godaikin /Brent
He’s the only artist I know that can sing about a typical every day, and make it sound like an awesome dream! So cool Adam. I’m glad I live in Owl City!
SunDaisyCake
EXACTLY!!!!
Pi Pu
Like 101!
the taxi
Jubelle Arboleda fx