Islands In the Stream
Parton Dolly Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Islands In the Stream" by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers speak about the powerful connection between two lovers. The song describes a relationship where the singer found peace and a sense of completeness upon meeting their partner. They express a deep and indescribable connection, where being held by their loved one brings them comfort and frees them from any pain.


The lyrics also highlight the dedication and blind devotion that comes with love. The phrase "tender love is blind, it requires dedication" implies that love requires commitment and a willingness to overlook flaws or imperfections. The couple in the song doesn't need words to communicate their feelings; their love is so strong that it doesn't require conversation. They navigate life's ups and downs together, making love with each other and relying on one another for support and happiness.


The metaphor of "islands in the stream" represents the couple as a separate entity, isolated from the world around them. They are a united force, with no one else coming between them. The song suggests that their love is unbreakable and timeless, regardless of any challenges they may face. The repeated phrase "sail away with me to another world" implies a desire to escape from reality into their own realm of love and togetherness.


Overall, "Islands In the Stream" conveys the idea of finding an extraordinary connection with someone. It highlights the depth of love and the power that comes with being in a committed relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
When I first met you, I experienced a sense of tranquility that I had never known before.


I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I made a thorough effort to win you over, examining every detail.


I was soft inside
I felt vulnerable and emotionally open.


There was something going on
There was a strong connection or attraction between us.


You do something to me that I can't explain
You have a profound effect on me that I struggle to put into words.


Hold me closer and I feel no pain
When you hold me tightly, all my troubles and pain disappear.


Every beat of my heart
With each pulse of my heart, I feel our love growing stronger.


We got something going on
There is a special bond and chemistry between us.


Tender love is blind
Gentle and deep affection can overlook flaws or imperfections.


It requires a dedication
Maintaining that love requires commitment and loyalty.


All this love we feel needs no conversation
The depth of our love doesn't require constant verbal affirmation.


We ride it together, ah ha
We navigate the journey of love as a united pair.


Making love with each other, ah ha
We engage in physical intimacy, expressing our deep connection.


Islands in the stream
We are like separate entities in the flowing river of life.


That is what we are
Our relationship is unique and distinct.


No one in between
There is no one who can come between us.


How can we be wrong?
In our love, there is no room for mistakes or doubt.


Sail away with me
Embark on a journey with me.


To another world
Escape to a different reality or experience.


And we rely on each other, ah ha
We depend on one another for support and strength.


From one lover to another, ah ha
Our love flows seamlessly and passionately from one person to the other.


I can't live without you if the love was gone
Without your love, my life would lose all meaning and purpose.


Everything is nothing if you got no one
Without someone to share life with, everything becomes meaningless.


And you did walk in the night
You went through a period of darkness or uncertainty.


Slowly losing sight of the real thing
Gradually losing touch with what truly matters.


But that won't happen to us and we got no doubt
We are confident that we won't lose sight of what's important in our love.


Too deep in love and we got no way out
Our love is so intense that we cannot imagine leaving each other.


And the message is clear
The message or truth is evident and unambiguous.


This could be the year for the real thing
This might be the time when our love becomes even more authentic and true.


No more will you cry
I promise that you will no longer shed tears.


Baby, I will hurt you never
I will never cause you any pain or harm.


We start and end as one
Our love story has no beginning or ending; we are together as a unified entity.


In love forever
Our love will last eternally.


We can ride it together, ah ha
We can navigate through life's ups and downs as a team.


Making love with each other, ah ha
We not only engage in physical intimacy, but also make love with our hearts and souls.


Oh, come sail away with me
Join me in embarking on a new adventure.


Islands in the stream
We are like separate entities in the flowing river of life.


That is what we are
Our relationship is unique and distinct.


No one in between
There is no one who can come between us.


How can we be wrong?
In our love, there is no room for mistakes or doubt.


Sail away with me
Embark on a journey with me.


To another world
Escape to a different reality or experience.


And we rely on each other, ah ha
We depend on one another for support and strength.


From one lover to another, ah ha
Our love flows seamlessly and passionately from one person to the other.


Islands in the stream
We are like separate entities in the flowing river of life.


That is what we are
Our relationship is unique and distinct.


No one in between
There is no one who can come between us.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maurice Ernest Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb, Barry Alan Gibb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@papasitomamasita

40 years later and still no one can sing it better than Kenny and Dolly. The harmony between these voices is divine.

@SarahTwin

Totally! 👍 ❤

@fencochou1535

Can’t agree with you more… I’ve learned it 4 decades ago and from then on till now I still sing along time to time… and not to forget Kenny rest in peace…

@jpssteam

Micheal Scott sings it better

@luckaluckata

Actually Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon pretty rules..

@BackToTheBlues

I must admit I much prefer the reggae version by Delroy Wilson and Jennifer Lara. It's slower paced, and the arrangement is lovely. Much nicer for a slow dance with the one you love!

9 More Replies...

@SonOfKong33

Bee Gees were such phenomenal song writers....And Kenny & Dolly are fantastic!...Takes me back to '83.

@dataracer1172

Yeah totally. Dolly Parton also deserves credit for all the massive hits she wrote. Like "I Will Always Love You," etc. Amazing song writers that I think were sorely missing today.

@victoriajohnson5461

Yes!❤

@SonOfKong33

@@puffinbilly6826 Yes....That's right.

More Comments

More Versions