Pico vs Island Trees, affectionately called “Pico” by their friends and fans, are some of the freshest faces on the growing Nashville pop scene. Their roots go deep; Bryan and guitarist Jeremy Bullock formed the band after a 7th grade talent show. The boys’ search for a band name ended when they watched a classroom film about the famous 1982 Supreme Court case against the Island Trees School District, which, according to the video’s main character, sounded "like a rock band." Pico vs Island Trees was born.
Over the next few years, Pico brought in bassist Brian Howell and toured extensively along the east coast, gaining a respectable following in their home state of North Carolina. In 2004 the band released their first full-length independent album, Just Wait. However, despite these small triumphs, the group had grown tired of operating as a ‘weekend band.’ With college plans looming on the horizon and mounting geographical challenges, Pico seemed to have reached a frustrating plateau.
The impasse that all bands dread was soon replaced by the opportunity which all bands dream of: Los Angeles producer David Kershenbaum (Duran Duran, Joe Jackson) heard one of their songs on the radio, loved it, and looked them up. In the blink of an eye the boys were on a plane to sunny California.
After 8 months of palm trees, click tracks, and mix downs, Pico had written and recorded a full album and were ready to hit the road with their full five-piece ensemble, with drummer Tommy Perkinson and keyboardist John Henry Trinko rounding out the lineup. The first song to emerge from the California sessions was the bossa-flavored “Open Doors”. Mixed by Mark Endert (Maroon 5, The Fray), the song has piqued the interest of both fans and industry types alike.
As the group settles into their new hometown of Nashville and awaits the release of their album, Pico vs Island Trees overflow with the optimism and energy that has made an indelible mark on their music -- and hopefully, your ears.
-A.W./G.B
In the Sky
Pico Vs. Island Trees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking along the shores of my
Insecurity?
It never seemed to take you by surprise.
And that's alright with me.
If that'll work for you.
That's alright with me.
If you're all I stand to lose.
So you found your place in the sky
Hard to see through clouded eyes.
But it's alright to cry.
We all get so selfish.
I'm waiting for you to come back
And tell me the reason why
You had to throw it all away.
We all get so selfish.
And I can't wait for you to say
You'll still love me anyway.
And I can't put you down no more.
Never thought I did before.
But I'm not leaving you now.
I'm not letting you down.
Float above me somehow.
I'm not leaving.
I see you try to slip away.
As the blistering sun begins to fade.
But every night ends another day.
As the stars show up to light your way.
But where you goin so late at night?
You gonna run for miles, you gonna be alright.
Always been one to start a fight.
So sit back, shut up, hold on tight..
Cos' I can't wait for you to say.
Never mattered anyway,
And won't watch another day.
While you throw you're life away.
But I'm not leaving you now.
I'm not letting you down.
Float above me somehow.
Float above me, you're my cloud.
And I can hear you crying
In the corner of my mind.
And I will rescue you somehow
If I could only find
The single place where you were crying
Weren't you crying out to me?
And I will rescue you somehow.
From the bottom of the sea of your tears.
I can't wait for you to say.
You never loved me anyway.
And I can't hold you down no more.
Just tell me what are you running for.
When I'm not leaving you now.
I'm not letting you down.
Float above me you're my cloud.
Float above me somehow.
You're not leaving me now.
After I stuck around.
Float above me somehow.
I'm not leaving.
The song "In the Sky" by Pico Vs. Island Trees is about a person's struggle with their own insecurity and how it affects their relationship with someone they love. The song talks about how the person is insecure and constantly worried about losing their partner, but at the same time, they don't want to be a burden to their partner. The chorus then talks about how the partner has found a place in the sky and it's hard to see through clouded eyes, which could mean that they're going through their own struggles, but the person is still waiting for them to come back and explain why they left. The song then talks about how the person is not leaving their partner, no matter what happens.
The lyrics of the song are quite powerful and relatable. It speaks about the fear of losing someone you love and how difficult it is to deal with your own insecurities while maintaining a relationship. The song also emphasizes the importance of communication and how it can help in fixing a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you see me
Asks if the other person can truly see and understand the singer
Walking along the shores of my insecurity?
Describing the singer's struggles with feelings of insecurity and self-doubt
It never seemed to take you by surprise.
Noted that the other person never appeared affected or surprised by the singer's insecurities
And that's alright with me. If that'll work for you.
The artist accepts that the other person may not fully understand them, and is willing to work with that
If you're all I stand to lose.
The artist values the relationship and doesn't want to lose it
So you found your place in the sky.
Describing the other person finding their place/success in life, maybe even a metaphorical 'sky'
Hard to see through clouded eyes.
Suggesting that this success may be blinding and not entirely clear
But it's alright to cry.
Reassuring the other person that it's okay to express emotions
We all get so selfish.
Acknowledging that people can get so wrapped up in themselves that they forget to care for others
I'm waiting for you to come back
The artist is waiting for the other person to return
And tell me the reason why you had to throw it all away.
The singer wants an explanation for why the other person left and gave up on the relationship
And I can't wait for you to say you'll still love me anyway.
Expressing the desire for the other person to still love and care for the artist, even if things are difficult
And I can't put you down no more. Never thought I did before.
The singer admits to previously underestimating the other person's importance and can't underestimate them anymore
But I'm not leaving you now. I'm not letting you down.
The singer is committed to staying with the other person and not letting them down
Float above me somehow. I'm not leaving.
The singer wants to be with, and support the other person, but acknowledges that they might need space
I see you try to slip away. As the blistering sun begins to fade.
The artist notices the other person trying to leave, perhaps as the day ends
But every night ends another day. As the stars show up to light your way.
Life goes on and the artist offers reassurance that there is always a path forward
But where you goin so late at night?
Asks where the other person is going late at night and if they will be okay
You gonna run for miles, you gonna be alright.
Asks if the other person is going to run for miles and survive the journey or if they are in over their head
Always been one to start a fight. So sit back, shut up, hold on tight..
The artist acknowledges the other person's tendency to start trouble and playfully tells them to brace themselves
Cos' I can't wait for you to say.
The artist is anticipating the other person's response
Never mattered anyway, And won't watch another day. While you throw your life away.
The artist is coming to terms with the idea that the relationship didn't mean as much to the other person and doesn't want to watch them waste their life
And I can't hold you down no more. Just tell me what are you running for.
The singer can't force the other person to stay, but wants to know why they are leaving
You're not leaving me now. After I stuck around. Float above me somehow.
The artist is glad that the other person is staying and wants to support them, even if it's from a distance
And I can hear you crying in the corner of my mind.
The singer can sense that the other person is upset, even if they aren't sharing it
And I will rescue you somehow If I could only find the single place where you were crying.
The singer wants to help and support the other person, but doesn't know how or where to start
Weren't you crying out to me? And I will rescue you somehow. From the bottom of the sea of your tears.
The singer wonders if the other person is crying out for help, and still wants to be there to support them even if things are tough
Contributed by Alexis S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@patrickwrye8450
I still can’t believe this isn’t on Spotify under their page…
@TripleOGdripGod
Always a classic reminiscent of my high school and first love. Everything was so much simpler then.
@JamesBenton87
I can't say how much I listened to this when I was 17
@jonluoni1290
I did a search not thinking I would find these classics. Loved the shows with Pico and Grand Piano Falling. Trying to remember the other high school bands we used to watch. So awesome!!!
@dylanhensley2867
I lost this album a decade ago and have never found it again. Outside of my daughter, my grandma was the most important person in my life and she went to Heaven yesterday. Thank you for helping me.
@Anonymous-yy9li
Thanks for uploading this, YouTube ftw when Spotify fails
@michaelcrossman772
I’ve been looking for a version of “Mother of Pearl” for ages now…. Had a copy many years ago, glad to have found this!!!!
@kneetotheface
omg i saw these dudes at governor's school wayyyyy back in '03. Wowwww i grabbed their cd back then and had it all throughout college and after but lost it ~2017. Was so dam sad but now ive found it all over againnnn thank u SO MUCH!!!
@crnbredjv66
Thank you! Saw these guys live several time in high school! What a throwback!
@TheTylertrent13
this connects me to so many good memories!