The Isle of Misanthrope [Dennis DeYoung]

The Isle of Misanthrope
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

Long ago in ancient times
We learned of life from minstrels rhymes
They told us tales of gods and kings
And to be beware when sirens sing

But when we heard the clarion call
The people laughed and built a wall
We joyfully rehearsed the tune
Like howling wolves at devils moon

We've all been taught our lines
So righteous with our holy signs
We were deaf to the lies
We were blind and unkind and unwise

And will we ever learn
All empires built will someday burn
When they've lost all concern
And they fail just to listen and learn

No more life
No more air
Like a ship of fools adrift on le mal de mer
No more joy
No more hope
Still we search for signs of truth as we learn to cope

Lord from the Isle of Misanthrope

And will we ever learn
All empires built will some day burn
When they've lost all concern
And they fail just to listen and learn

No more light
No more air
Like a ship of fools adrift sur le mal de mer
No more life
No more air
Like a ship of fools adrift on le mal de mer
Still we search for signs of truth as we learn to cope

Lord from the Isle of the Misanthrope

And when we crossed the bridge of sighs
We bowed and said our last goodbyes
Then set a course for better days

Then once again we sailed away... 

Interpretation

To be on the Isle of Misanthrope would be to find yourself alienated from humanity. 

In past days, the minstrels would sing their songs as a way to pass along news, entertain, and warn people of what was out there where the listeners had not traveled. Today it comes in the form of news. Just as in the past people would just laugh and build a wall to keep out the unknown rather than try to learn more about the world in which they lived, today people just listen to the pundits who share their political leaning and go to websites that reinforce their existing biases. Then we learn and repeat the talking points, and rather than being an appealing melody, it comes out like wolves howling at a devils's moon (a red moon, or a crescent moon that looks like devil's horns). Another analogy is that the talking points are recited like religious creeds, signs, or rituals. We live in an age where it is like we are on a ship where no one know what to do on a wild sea, and everyone is seasick ("le mal de mer"). So some of us have just given up and moved on, and sailed away (a nod to Come Sail Away).