Islands In The Stream
Parton Dolly & Kenny Rodgers 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 somethin' 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 somethin' goin' on
Tender love is blind, it requires a dedication
All this love we feel, needs no conversation
We ride it together, ah ah
Makin' love with each other, ah ah

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 ah
From one lover to another, ah ah

I can't live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothin' if you got no one
And you did walk in tonight
Slowly loosen' 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 ah
Makin' love with each other, ah ah

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 ah
From one lover to another, ah ah

Sail away
Ooh, 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 ah
From one lover to another, ah ah
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 ah
From one lover to another, ah ah




Islands in the stream, that is what we are
No one in between, how can we be wrong

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Islands in the Stream" by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers tells the story of a loving couple who have experienced peace and happiness when they found each other. The first verse explains how the male character had worked hard to win the heart of the female character who had softened him up on the inside. In the chorus, the couple sings about how they are "islands in the stream" with no one in between, finding happiness in embracing each other and ignoring any obstacles. The following verses highlight the depth of their love towards each other, saying that they don't need conversation, and their reliance on each other as they sail away to a new world. The song ends with a promise to never hurt one another, and they will always be in love forever.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
When I first met you, I found a sense of calm and tranquility that I had not experienced before.


I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was determined to pursue you with great attention to detail and scrutiny.


I was soft inside, there was somethin' going on
Although I appeared outwardly calm, there was a strong emotional connection brewing within me.


You do something to me that I can't explain
There is an indescribable quality about you that deeply affects me.


Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Your physical closeness fills me with a sense of comfort and ease, making any pain or discomfort disappear.


Every beat of my heart, we got somethin' goin' on
I feel a strong connection to you in every moment, and our relationship is something special.


Tender love is blind, it requires a dedication
A type of love that is gentle and affectionate can be all-consuming and requires loyalty and commitment to maintain.


All this love we feel, needs no conversation
Our love is so strong that words are not necessary to express our feelings to each other.


We ride it together, ah ah
We face any challenges or obstacles in our relationship as a team, supporting each other through anything.


Makin' love with each other, ah ah
Our physical intimacy is an important expression of our emotional connection.


Islands in the stream, that is what we are
Our relationship is like two small islands in a vast ocean, existing in isolation from the rest of the world.


No one in between, how can we be wrong
Since there is no one else involved in our relationship, there can be no conflicts or disagreements - we must be doing something right.


Sail away with me to another world
Let's leave behind the stress and complications of our everyday lives and explore new horizons together.


And we rely on each other, ah ah
Our relationship is built on mutual trust and support - we depend on each other to navigate through life.


From one lover to another, ah ah
We are each other's only love, and our relationship is unique and special.


I can't live without you if the love was gone
Your love is so essential to my existence that I cannot imagine living without it.


Everything is nothin' if you got no one
Without someone to share it with, even the richest and most fulfilling life is ultimately meaningless.


And you did walk in tonight
When you entered the room, something shifted in me and I knew that our connection was real and powerful.


Slowly loosen' sight of the real thing
As time goes by, it can be easy to lose sight of what is truly important and valuable in life, but our love keeps me grounded.


But that won't happen to us and we got no doubt
We are confident that our love will endure any challenges that come our way and that we will remain dedicated to each other.


Too deep in love and we got no way out
Our love is so strong that we are completely committed to each other, with no possibility of escape or separation.


And the message is clear
The meaning of our love and dedication to each other is clear and unambiguous.


This could be the year for the real thing
This year could be the time when our love is truly tested and proven to be genuine and lasting.


No more will you cry, baby, I will hurt you never
I will never intentionally cause you pain or make you cry - my love for you is sincere and enduring.


We start and end as one, in love forever
Our relationship is not just a momentary fling, but a lifelong commitment - we are united in love forever.


Sail away
Let's embark on a new adventure together, far away from the stresses of everyday life.


Ooh, sail away with me
Come with me on this journey of life and love - let's support each other through all the ups and downs.




Contributed by Christian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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