Isle Unto Thyself

Isle Unto Thyself
Written by	Joe Hawley
Appears on	Hawaii: Part II
Sung by	Joe Hawley
Duration	3:47
Genre	Alternative
Language	English

Isle Unto Thyself is a song by Joe Hawley. It is the 2nd track on the album Hawaii: Part II. Variations On A Cloud contains some motifs from this song. On the 12th December 2014 (2 years after the original release of Hawaii: Part II) an animated music video for Isle unto Thyself was uploaded to the ミラクルミュージカル YouTube channel [1].

History

The first demo of it was made in January of 2006 and was titled "Matters". Notable differences between the demo and album version include the the chorus and verses being told in first person (bridges remain second person), Joe Hawley singing the chorus instead of Madi Diaz and a vivid Hawaiian and 1960s theme.

Lyrics

Blinding shining star
You won't see so far
Know what can't be shown
Feel what can't be known

You were an isle unto thyself
You had a heart you hadn't felt
Why would it hurt me
Or was it real

It was the night we had to part
We were afraid to miss the start
What did it matter
Why would it matter
And could we heal

Blinding shining star
You won't see so far
Know what can't be shown
Feel what can't be known

I was a victim of magic
Apollo
Catching my breath as I bled on the ground
Somebody called me to follow
I followed
Thinking aloud without hearing the sound

Then all the planets fell to dust
Lonely departing after us
Gone not forgotten
Long but forgotten old lore

In every element of life
Love camouflaging under strife
Or other matters
Minds over matters
let there be more

Maybe you'll exit tomorrow
The sorrow
Sweeping you off as your island replies
Sudden invincible flowing
A river
Clearer than all thou might view with thine eyes

Why did fire-erupted lands arrive?
Why did murderous animals survive?
Why did we deserve to be revived?
Why was any and everything alive?

Matters Lyrics

Blind a shining star
We won't see so far
Know what can't be shown
Feel what can't be known

I was an isle unto myself
I had a heart I hadn't felt
Why would it hurt me?
Or was it real?

It was the day I had to part
I was afraid to miss my heart
What did it matter?
Why did it matter?
Or would I feel?

Blind a shining star
We won't see so far
Know what can't be shown
Feel what can't be known

I was a victim of magic
Apollo
Catching my breath as I bled on the ground

Somebody called me to follow
I followed
Thinking aloud without hearing the sound

(Why)

When all the planets fall to dust
Lonely departing after us
Gone not forgotten
Long but forgotten

In every element of life
Love camouflages under strife
Or other matters
Not only matter
Let there be more

Blind a shining star
We won't see so far
Know what can't be shown
Feel what can't be known

Maybe we'll tango tomorrow
The sorrow 
Sweeping us off as our mother replies

Suddenly everything flowing
Like water
Clearer than all we can see with our eyes

(Why)

Why do travelling tumbleweeds arrive?
Why do murderous animals survive?
Why do I deserve to be revived?
Why are any or all of us alive?

Credits

Engineered by Bora Karaca at the Laboratory in Beverly Hills, CA
Music & Lyrics: Joe Hawley
Vocals: Joe Hawley
Additional Vocals: Bora Karaca, Andrew Kurtz, Ashley Renee
Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Joe Hawley
Electric Bass: Ryan Brady
Drum Kit: Ross Federman
Drum Engineering: Ben Collins, Ross Federman