Island Lyrics - New Model Army

The wind blows keen across the ridge 

Black against a charcoal grey 

We climb up here by the winding path made so long ago 

In the valley below the last few lights 

glow just like the embers of a fire 

We begin to remember, we begin to remember 

We came by the sea and we took the land 

We spread out across the plains 

And on and on to the mountains 

Until there was nothing left to conquer 

The sound of chopping trees echoed through the woods 

We built the ships and the houses 

and the bridges and the fortifications 

Until there was nothing left to build with 

Now in the silver grey dome of the sky 

The birds fly home for winter 

And we all come down to the shore and stare across the waves 

We've got to get off the island 

We carved monuments to the angry gods 

We hauled stone across the deserts of our own making 

From the standing stones to the villages 

To the shining palaces looking out over the water 

The soil is growing thin, the yield running low 

There's too many of us here, too many of us here 

And now ragged ribbons of rain sweep in 

As the birds fly home for winter 

And we all come down to the shore and stare across the waves 

We've got to get off the island