My freind Aengus Finnan, who also sings the song, says I should have named it Leopard's Run. I think he's right!

Desolation Island stuck because I recorded the demo shortly after I wrote the song, and had yet to name it. I wrote Desolation Island on the CD, so I;d remember what song it was - and then never gave it another thought. When the record came out several months later, I ad forgotten that I never really named the song.

BUT - I liked the idea of giving a hint to those who know nothing of O'Brien - only in the title. If someone was curious enough to "look it up" they'd quickly find the novel.