About The Song
‘Islands in the Stream’ by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers is an unforgettable classic. You have heard this upbeat hit single when Sunday’s Best music’s playing on your stereo. It’s a timeless piece that can never falter; even a hundred years may pass. What’s more, is how the song is meaningful for the veteran artists Parton and Rogers.
Because the disco era was dancing its way out of the 1980s, the iconic group Bee Gees ventured to other genres. They pushed their creativity to write songs for other artists. This turn of events gave birth to a solid gold tune called ‘Island in The Streams.’
The trio Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb first wrote the song for Marvin Gaye. The music is in an R&B melody but later changed to a country-pop beat. The transformation of musicality also paved the way for Kenny Rogers to record the song. He included it as the first single on his 1983 album ‘Eyes That See In The Dark’ featuring Dolly Parton.
If you don’t know, ‘Island In The Streams’ came from a novel of the same name written by Ernest Hemingway. It’s a posthumous novel of the iconic author released. His wife discovered it among his belongings and published the book.
It’s a hit single with legendary inspiration, iconic songwriters, and superstar singers.
Thanks to their collaboration, the two country music legends have solidified their friendship. We’re not talking about ten years but 30 years of mutual attachment.
Before their epic collaboration, the two achieved long-term success in their solo careers. They had duets and toured with other singers as well before their meeting. No one expected that a shining star could get shinier when they released ‘Islands In The Stream.’
Rogers told People magazine the story of how the hit single came about. The veteran artist has been singing it for four days on his L.A. studio. But he didn’t think it fits him or the album. Roger told Barry (Gibbs) that he didn’t want to do the song anymore.
Defeated, they thought of a way to spice up the piece. This is where Barry thought of Dolly Parton. At that time, Parton lived near Rogers studio. She showed up in her unique fashion, and the song never been the same.
The hit single grabbed the No. 1 position in the 1983 US charts from Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’ Moreover, it sold over 2 million copies in the US. It is certified as platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Lyrics
Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was soft inside
There was something going on
You do something to me that I can’t explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart
We got something going on
Tender love is blind
It requires a dedication
All this love we feel needs no conversation
We ride it together, ah ha
Making love with each other, ah ha
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
I can’t live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothing if you got no one
And you did walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing
But that won’t happen to us and we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing
No more will you cry
Baby, I will hurt you never
We start and end as one
In love forever
We can ride it together, ah ha
Making love with each other, ah ha
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
Sail away
Oh, come sail away with me
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between