They started as an electronic dance music project in 2003 in Berlin, but have since slowly developed into a band with no programmed elements. Their German record label is Bubbles. Their debut album Dreams was released on June 21, 2006 in Germany. In July 2007, Modular Records signed them to their UK imprint and the band played their first UK performance with New Young Pony Club at the London Astoria in September 2007. The album was released in the UK with the single Burning in November 2007. The Band released their second album, Rules, in March 2009. It was recorded in a newly built studio located on Punta Burros, Nayarit, Mexico.
Their single "1517" was also featured in the soundtrack of the video-game FIFA 10.
The band started The Whitest Boy Alive + The New Wine tour in April, 2009, visiting Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. In 2011 the band travelled to China with promoters Split Works.
In June 2014, the band announced via their Facebook page that they "are no longer composing or playing together as The Whitest Boy Alive."
They reactivated in 2019.
Island
The Whitest Boy Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the trees had come out the screen.
Nobody called for many days.
I was left in my little world.
Lived through the smell of painted floors,
Echoing the sound.
Off running water through the pipes,
And posters falling down.
When I woke up the second day,
All the noises have disappeared.
Down the street I chose a path,
And walked to the end of it.
Of all the words you sent to me,
There was one that I couldn't bear.
One that for me meant everything,
I think you got mixed up with care,
Taking care, taking care.
Live on the island.
Live on the island.
Live on the island.
Live on the island.
The lyrics to The Whitest Boy Alive's Island depict the singer's experiences upon returning home. The first verse talks about how he notices that the trees seem to have come out of the screen, suggesting that perhaps he's been away for a while and everything seems a little strange. He also notes the lack of communication he's had with anyone since returning, feeling left alone in his own little world. The second half of the verse describes the sensory experiences of being alone in his home; the sound of running water and the smell of freshly painted floors.
The second verse is about the singer going out into the world, as he notices that all the noises from the previous day have vanished. He chooses a path and walks to the end of it, perhaps trying to find some meaning or direction in his life. The final lines of the verse are intriguing, as the singer talks about a word that he couldn't bear, that for him meant everything. The word is never revealed, giving the listener something to ponder. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Live on the island," perhaps referring to the isolation and solitude that the singer is experiencing. The song ends on this refrain, suggesting that the idea of living on an island - both physically and metaphorically - will persist for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
When I got back along my road,
Upon returning to my own path,
All the trees had come out the screen.
The world around me seemed to have bloomed,
Nobody called for many days.
Days passed in isolation and silence,
I was left in my little world.
Alone in my own bubble,
Lived through the smell of painted floors,
Surviving on the scent of fresh paint,
Echoing the sound.
Listening to nothing but echoes,
Off running water through the pipes,
Only the sound of flowing water to be heard,
And posters falling down.
Watching posters peeling off the walls,
When I woke up the second day,
On the second day of my new reality,
All the noises have disappeared.
All sounds vanished into the void,
Down the street I chose a path,
I picked a random direction and walked,
And walked to the end of it.
Walking until the road came to an end,
Of all the words you sent to me,
Out of all the messages you've sent,
There was one that I couldn't bear.
One that was too painful to endure,
One that for me meant everything,
A message that held great significance for me,
I think you got mixed up with care,
I believe it was a mistake rather than intention,
Taking care, taking care.
Maybe a misplaced attempt at being careful,
Live on the island.
Live in a solitary world,
Live on the island.
Embrace being alone on this island of my own,
Live on the island.
Accept that isolation is now my reality,
Live on the island.
And learn to survive in this new world.
Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.