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Islands – Rough Gem (2016) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Islands
Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster)
Rough Gem

SINGLE

Rough Gem

Release date: 11th November 2016

From Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster)

Track 4

3:36

Indie Rock Music Alternative

Spotify Apple Music More on Islands

About This Track

'Rough Gem' by Islands is an indie rock track from the album 'Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster)' (2016). The lyrics dwell on exploitation and mining, with a furious, accusatory edge, as the speaker insists the blame lies with the mines in Africa. There is also a sense of exhaustion and defiance, capped by the admission, “I’ve been awake”, alongside images of being taken apart and reshaped. The effect is darkly theatrical, as if a personal grievance has been dressed up as a public indictment.

"Rough Gem" is a single by Islands, from the album Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster), released 11th November 2016. The track is 3:36 long. It's filed under Indie Rock. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Islands.

About the Artist

Islands

Islands

Lyrics

Rough Gem

The world beat you for something nice
You worked hard, died poor
You mined what you died for
Diamonds, di-di-di-di-di, ah
You can whistle my name
It's the mines in Africa
That are to blame
You can scoop out my brain
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain
I've been awake from the first day
Stayed awake, stayed awake
The rabbit was removed under the whole moon
Longer, short road
Dig deep but don't dig too deep
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
They want me raw and smooth like glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
I'm a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem
Who lives in those lights in the distance?
Watered down, the rain will help you out
I had a dream, it was all a dream
But it was ruined by the sun shining through me

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster)

3:362016Single

Listen

Album

Return to the Sea (10th Anniversary Remaster)

11th November 2016

Track number

4

Release year

2016

1Swans (Life After Death)
9:30
2Humans
4:59
3Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby
2:32
4Rough Gem
3:36

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Albums & EPs

What Occurs

And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Islomania

Taste

Should I Remain Here at Sea?

Should I Remain Here at Sea?

Ski Mask (Spotify Exclusive Commentary Version)

Ski Mask (Spotify Exclusive Commentary Version)

Explore

More tracks by Islands

A VoidWhat Occurs

HangWhat Occurs

On The InternetWhat Occurs

Sally Doesn't Work Here AnymoreWhat Occurs

Talk Is CheapWhat Occurs

The EndWhat Occurs

David Geffen's Jackson Pollock

HangWhat Occurs

Sally Doesn't Work Here AnymoreWhat Occurs

On the InternetWhat Occurs

Move Some MoreWhat Occurs

David Geffen's Jackson PollockWhat Occurs

Drown a FishWhat Occurs

A VoidWhat Occurs

ArachnophobiaWhat Occurs

Talk is CheapWhat Occurs

What OccursWhat Occurs

The EndWhat Occurs

TangerineWhat Occurs

Boll WeevilWhat Occurs

Life’s A JokeAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Driven SnowAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

SuperstitiousAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

PelicanAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

VioletAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Life's a JokeAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Bite My TongueAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

And All You Can Do Is LaughAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

HeadlinesAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Hard to ArgueAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Too Far GoneAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

Up the Down StaircaseAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs

IslomaniaIslomania

MarbleIslomania

Closed CaptioningIslomania

A Passionate AgeIslomania

CarpenterIslomania

Natural Law PartyIslomania

Set The FairlightIslomania

Never Let You DownIslomania

(We Like To) Do It With The Lights OnIslomania

Ethics + Molars

View all tracks by Islands →

A VoidWhat Occurs
3:25
And All You Can Do Is LaughAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs
3:43
ArachnophobiaWhat Occurs
2:42
Bite My TongueAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs
3:39
Boll WeevilWhat Occurs
2:23
David Geffen's Jackson PollockWhat Occurs
4:28
Driven SnowAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs
3:18
Drown a FishWhat Occurs
3:09
HangWhat Occurs
0:23
Hard to ArgueAnd That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs
2:12

Showing 10 of 50

If you like Islands

Mister Heavenly

The Unicorns

The Unicorns

Man Man

Sunset Rubdown

Sunset Rubdown

Architecture in Helsinki

The Fiery Furnaces

6Where There's a Will, There's a Whalebone

7Jogging Gorgeous Summer

11Bucky Little Wing

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Nicholas Thorburn
Producer: Islands, Mark Lawson
Drums: Jamie Thompson
Guitar: Nicholas Thorburn
Vocals: Nicholas Thorburn
Bass Guitar: Patrice Agbokou
Percussion: Jamie Thompson

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

READ MORE ABOUT ISLANDS

Future Islands have shared their new one-off single 'Glimpse'

Future Islands have shared their new one-off single 'Glimpse'

The new track arrives ahead of their upcoming headline tour.

5 Sept 2024 • 5:46 pm