Islands
Young and the Giant Lyrics
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Underwater
Near your island
Off the coast
I know
Five ways
You were my lover
Incantation
In rhyme
Oh, what if the whole world finds you waiting
Oh, as it can so long now have
Oh, I thought you knew that I'd be coming
The way you move, a foreign groove, at night
I could never
I could never hold you
Watch it rise and where you hide your pearl
Feel the tide low where you cast those stones you wear
When no one's home, do they feel cold on your bones
All the years I miss your warmth
Have you missed my warmth?
On your island
In "Islands" by Young the Giant, the singer is reminiscing about a past love, who lived on an island they used to visit. The song is introspective and full of longing, as the singer reflects on the time they spent with their former lover. The first verse describes their time on the island, possibly on vacation, with the singer mentioning being underwater and near the coast. They also mention five ways that their lover enchanted them, possibly referring to different traits or qualities that they found captivating.
The second verse continues with the theme of longing and reminiscing. The singer wonders what would happen if the whole world found their former lover waiting for them, indicating that they still feel a strong connection. They reminisce about the way their former lover moved, calling it a "foreign groove," possibly indicating that the person was from a different culture or background than the singer. The lyrics "I could never hold you" suggest that the relationship was doomed from the start, whether due to distance or other factors.
The chorus is particularly haunting, with the singer asking if their former lover still thinks of them and misses their warmth. The line "On your island" adds emphasis to the feeling of being separated; there is a clear distance between the singer and their former lover.
Overall, "Islands" is a melancholy, introspective song about longing for a past love. The imagery of the island and water adds to the wistful nature of the song, as does the sparse, haunting instrumental backing.
Line by Line Meaning
Five days
It has been five days since the person has been underwater.
Underwater
The person is currently underwater.
Near your island
The person is close to an island.
Off the coast
The person is somewhere near the coast.
I know
The person is certain.
Five ways
There are five different methods.
You were my lover
The person had a past relationship with someone.
Incantation
There was a magical spell or charm involved.
Off the tide
The person is somewhere beyond the ocean's tide.
In rhyme
Words are being used poetically and have a rhyming pattern.
Oh, what if the whole world finds you waiting
The person is worried about what will happen if everyone finds the other person waiting.
Oh, as it can so long now have
It has been a long time since something has happened.
Oh, I thought you knew that I'd be coming
The person thought that the other person knew they would come.
The way you move, a foreign groove, at night
The other person's movement is unique and unfamiliar, particularly at night.
I could never
The person is not capable of something.
I could never hold you
The person cannot physically hold the other person.
Watch it rise and where you hide your pearl
The person is observing a natural event and is curious as to where the other person's treasure is hidden.
Feel the tide low where you cast those stones you wear
The person is feeling the low tide where the other person discarded stones/jewelry.
When no one's home, do they feel cold on your bones
The person is wondering if the other person feels lonely when they are by themselves.
All the years I miss your warmth
The person has missed the other person for many years and desires their love and affection.
Have you missed my warmth?
The person is asking if the other person has missed their love and affection.
On your island
The other person is on an island.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERIC MATTHEW CANNATA, FRANCOIS PAUL COMTOIS, JACOB JOHN TILLEY, PAYAM REZA DOOSTZADEH, SAMEER GADHIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abdalaez
Five days
Underwater
Near your island
Off the coast
I know
Five ways
You were my lover
Incantation
Off the tide
In rhyme
Oh, what if the whole world finds you waiting
Oh, as it can so long now have
Oh, I thought you knew that I'd be coming
The way you move, a foreign groove, at night
I could never
I could never hold you
Watch it rise and where you hide your pearl
Feel the tide low where you cast those stones you wear
When no one's home, do they feel cold on your bones
All the years I miss your warmth
Have you missed my warmth?
On your island
@VAMPIREGIRL0121
Lyrics
Five days
Underwater
Near your island
Off the coast
I know
Five ways
You were my lover
Incantation
Off the tide
In rhyme
Oh, what if the whole world finds you waiting
Oh, as it can so long now have
Oh, I thought you knew that I'd be coming
The way you move, a foreign groove, at night
I could never
I could never hold you
Watch it rise and where you hide your pearl
Feel the tide low where you cast those stones you wear
When no one's home, do they feel cold on your bones
All the years I miss your warmth
Have you missed my warmth?
On your island
🗻
@henoksol
😊☺😇🤩😍 Loved this song
Five days
Underwater
Near your island
Off the coast
I know
Five ways
You were my lover
Incantation
Off the tide
In rhyme
Oh, what if the whole world finds you waiting
Oh, as it can so long now have
Oh, I thought you knew that I'd be coming
The way you move, a foreign groove, at night
I could never
I could never hold you
Watch it rise and where you hide your pearl
Feel the tide low where you cast those stones you wear
When no one's home, do they feel cold on your bones
All the years I miss your warmth
Have you missed my warmth?
On your island
@estherbjerga523
This is one of those songs that feels exactly as it was meant to. It takes you far away, to another world.
@thewhatness
This song demonstrates a haunting level of restraint. You can tell there is so much emotion behind the lyrics, but Sameer keeps his delivery airtight. And the melancholy of him crooning at the end is enough to give me chills.
@lambdillion4610
I find the restraint mentioned to be for one, representation of repressed desire and emotion, especially to his love ('I thought you knew that I'd be coming", "I could never hold you"), but also, more importantly, the gentle vocals help allow the song to not just be heard as a song, but also as a poem, which is evidenced by the beautiful lyrics rich in metaphor :)
@miraxterrik
For the past 10 or so years i have kept coming back to this song. I don't think i would ever forget it. There is something about it, something otherworldly.
@dagourdfather
13 years of this song, and it still does exactly what I need it to.. eases the suffering, makes me feel when I can no longer, many long nights, many long drives stuck on this song. Forever grateful for this album ❤
@johneli495
This takes me to another place. Listened to it a hundred times on loop
@ismeldalopez3540
John Eli .
@charlieburris338
John Eli sho does my friend, sho does.
@alexff7
All the years I've missed your warmth
@cherrypie414
Fun fact, Sameer was a creative writing major so that is why their songs have very deep and unique meanings. I love them so much and if you've never seen them live you should go to one, you will not be disappointed.