The Island

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
2013
First release
True North (album)
Songwriter
Greg Graffin

Lyrics

The Island

There's a world outside but I can't really make it There's a life to lead but I can't exactly fake it Yet the mood feels right But my island is sinking out of sight I made jetties so they'd catch all the sediment Removed the rocks and every impediment But the tide's rising high to wash away my island in the night The sheltering sky was to be my everlasting lullaby They said that islands were solid as bedrock Standing firm forevermore But over time even basement wastes away to the unrelenting shore There's a lonely seed waiting to be planted I've instructions but desire is wholly absent I'm just a petrel in the storm My island can't protect me anymore

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#214

214th most featured song

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Song Interpretations

What do you think this song is about? Share your interpretation and explain your reasoning.

6

legacy memberSep 2, 2019
We fall for the illusion that we can make ourselves safe in this world but to live a meaningful life requires letting go of safety, being authentic and diving into the unknown. Of course, we want to resist that but resistant or not, we must choose.
PizarrockAug 7, 2018 · edited Aug 7, 2018

I understand this song as a metaphor for depression or anxiety, maybe both. The beginning is very literal, like you know that there is something that doesn't work but you don't have the strength or the will to face it. The island could be the fortress you have created to evade that world you can't face, but even if you try to hide in it, there is always something that breaks the walls. You know there's somethig w…

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I understand this song as a metaphor for depression or anxiety, maybe both.

The beginning is very literal, like you know that there is something that doesn't work but you don't have the strength or the will to face it.

The island could be the fortress you have created to evade that world you can't face, but even if you try to hide in it, there is always something that breaks the walls.

You know there's somethig wrong but you don't have the will to change it, or you just don't know how to. You have instructions to change things, but the desire to do it is wholly absent, for me that's the perfect description for anxiety.


[small]Edited by Pizarrock[/small]
walderSep 8, 2013
I agree that it's the best song on the record. The melody is so "badreligional", it couldn't quit me without feeling of shiver. The text itself in kepping with Greg's messages.
walderSep 8, 2013 · edited Sep 8, 2013
I agree that it's the best song on the record. The melody is so "badreligional", it couldn't quit me without feeling of shiver. The text itself in keeping with Greg's messages.

[small]Edited by walder[/small]
legacy memberJan 28, 2013 · edited Jan 28, 2013

I believe this song is a more interpersonal song about how Greg feels about his life goal and himself as a person. I think The Island refers to the deep rooted feelings about the world Greg has, and his ideas, morals and beliefs in general. As time goes by it becomes harder and harder for him to openly state his true opinions about things as he needs to keep a facade (as all people do) to keep connections to other pe…

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I believe this song is a more interpersonal song about how Greg feels about his life goal and himself as a person. I think The Island refers to the deep rooted feelings about the world Greg has, and his ideas, morals and beliefs in general. As time goes by it becomes harder and harder for him to openly state his true opinions about things as he needs to keep a facade (as all people do) to keep connections to other people, especially since he works in acedemia, however, this causes his island to slowly fade away. I feel like this is even evident in the album cover, showing the true self behind the social facade. I think Greg realizes that he wants to become bolder with his true beliefs, but to change the world in the way he really wishes to, is undesirable, as he's given instruction throughout the years to people, with no one doing anything to reitterate his beliefs. I think the lonely seed, is the same one talked about in "Resist Stance" where he mentions that if revolution isn't what's instore, how can you care about the seeds of rebellion. However I think this song gives an even more urgent sense of this matter as the last line that gives me shivers, [I'm just a petral in the storm my island can't protect me anymore]. This line really hit me the first time I heard it, as it shows that the foundation and basing of Gregs ideas may no longer exist because no one seems to be supporting his ideas, or rather putting them into practice.

Aanyway that's my take on the song in a nutshell, this is my favorite song on the album, and I hope my interpretation is accurate.

[small]Edit: made it readable.[/small]

[small]Edited by Jesse[/small]
legacy memberJan 25, 2013
So musically and lyrically this song has a heck of a lot in common with "When", from Suffer. I'm just wondering in general about any other relations between this song or album and previous albums. I thought while listening to the whole album it definitely reminded me of Suffer, but the vocal bit they did at the end of this song and When are identical, which is what sparked my interest.