Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Burgh Island” by Ben Howard
Ben Howard’s “Burgh Island” is a heartfelt ode to a lost love. The song paints a vivid picture of a time when the parties, fun, and games on the titular island coped with the ache of a heartbreak.
The song opens with a gentle guitar strumming and Ben’s raspy drawl singing “So you’re leaving, back in your head you’d be right if you’d said.” A wave of nostalgia and regret falls over us, and we feel the sadness in his voice. He’s hurt, but recognizes that it’s the right decision for both of them.
The chorus “Burgh Island, all we ever do, we spent our days chasing the sun around” serves as a reminder of the times when life was simple and straightforward, before it was clouded by heartache. The lines “on the horizon your need to fly away from the storm/That I picked up this time” paint a picture of a tumultuous relationship, while acknowledging the need to fly away from the difficult emotions they experienced together.
The bridge builds to a haunting, peaceful melody, mirrored by the lyrics “so I guess we go our separate ways/My life without you is so strange.” The sadness is palpable here, and there is certainly no bitter aftermath – only the acceptance of a beautiful love lost.
The song’s picturesque description of an island and magical memories serves as a testament to how important the relationship was to the narrator. In the end, it is clear that “Burgh Island” is a bittersweet exploration of the effects of losing someone you love.