Chords + Lyrics | Islands In the Stream
Intro
||: C | F/A C :||
Verse 1
| C | C |
Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown.
| C | C | F |
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb, I was soft inside.
| F | C | F/A C |
There was something going on.
Verse 2
You do something to me that I can’t explain.
Hold me closer and I feel no pain, every beat of my heart.
| F | C | C |
We got something going on.
Bridge 1
| Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 |
Tender love is blind, it requires a dedication.
| Fm | Fm |
All this love we feel needs no conversation.
| C | C |
We ride it together, ah ha.
| C | C |
Making love with each other, ah ha.
Chorus 1
| C | F |
Islands in the stream, that is what we are.
| Dm | Dm |
No one in between, how can we be wrong?
| C | F |
Sail away with me to another world.
| C | C |
And we rely on each other, ah ha.
| Dm | C | C |
From one lover to another, ah ha.
Verse 3 (key change)
| Ab | Ab |
I can’t live without you if the love was gone.
| Ab | Ab | Db |
Everything is nothing if you got no one, and you did walk in the night.
| Db | Ab | Db/F Ab |
Slowly losing sight of the real thing.
Verse 4
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.
| Db | Ab | Ab |
This could be the year for the real thing.
Bridge 2
| Dbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 |
No more will you cry. Baby, I will hurt you never.
| Dbm | Dbm |
We start and end as one in love forever.
| Ab | Ab |
We can ride it together, ah ha.
| Ab | Ab |
Making love with each other, ah ha.
Chorus 2
| Ab | Db |
Islands in the stream, that is what we are.
| Bbm | Bbm |
No one in between, how can we be wrong?
| Ab | Db |
Sail away with me, to another world.
| Ab | Ab |
And we rely on each other, ah ha.
| Bbm | Ab |
From one lover to another, ah ha.
Solo
| Db | E | Ab | Db/F Ab |
Sail away.
| Db | E | Ab | Ab |
Oh, come sail away with me.
Chorus 3
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.
Chorus 4
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.
Outro
| Ab | Ab |
Islands in the stream, that is what we are.
| Bbm | Bbm | (to fade)
No one in between…
Islands In the Stream Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find two backing tracks for playing Islands In the Stream. I’ve used AI to extract the chords while keeping the drums and bass intact, with vocals included on the first track in the playlist.
In some territories, the vocal version is not available dues to copyright restrictions.
Should you want to also play along with the original recording, you must tune your guitar to 447Hz, use my online tuner for this.
For the backing tracks above, I’ve done this work as I’ve detuned the song to work with a guitar tuned to 440Hz.
After studying the chords and TAB, use these backing tracks to prepare for playing Islands In the Stream with a band.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
The chords are refreshingly simple, starting with a C – F/A riff for the intro.
Verse
The verse keeps this approach, focusing on triads and sticking to the I and IV chords:
| C (I) | C | C | C |
| F (IV) | F | C | F/A (IV/3) C |
Before the bridge, we leave out the F/A chord and stay on the C chord.
Bridge
The bridge introduces an Fmaj7 chord, which sounds particularly adventurous given the basic structure up until this point. When this Fmaj7 shifts to a IVm chord, it creates a bittersweet, emotional effect.
Here’s the full progression:
| Fmaj7 (IV) | Fmaj7 | Fm (IVm) | Fm |
| C (I) | C | C | C |
Chorus
Finally, the chorus brings in the II chord, creating a distinct harmonic shift:
| C (I) | F (IV) | Dm (II) | Dm |
| C | F | C | C |
| Dm | C | C |
This 11-bar chorus is quite unusual—Folsom Prison Blues is the only other song I can think of that uses this structure.
Modulation
After the first chorus of Islands In the Stream, when Dolly takes over, we modulate up a tritone to the key of Ab (or G#) and repeat the same progressions, now in the new key:
Verse
| Ab | Ab | Ab | Ab |
| Db | Db | Ab |1. Db/F Ab :||2. Ab |
Bridge
| Dbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Dbm | Dbm |
| Ab | Ab | Ab | Ab |
Chorus (shorter)
| Ab | Db | Bbm | Bbm |
| Ab | Db | Ab | Ab |
| Bbm | Ab |
Solo
Next comes the solo section, which lasts for 8 bars and features slightly unconventional chords:
| Db | E | Ab | Db/F Ab |
| Db | E | Ab | Ab |
The E chord here can be seen as a bVIx, a modal interchange that hints at a Db Lydian scale shifting to Dbm (Aeolian).
Chorus (new key)
Finally, we return to the chorus, with that familiar extra bar, making it an 11-bar chorus again:
||: Ab | Db | Bbm | Bbm |
| Ab | Db | Ab | Ab |
| Bbm | Ab | Ab :||
Islands In the Stream is a great example of what it takes to be a professional guitarist—resisting the urge to overplay!
I’ve designed TAB to help you navigate all sections, including the key change and incorporating that horn riff in the instrumental section.
Here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Islands In the Stream – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you’ve worked through the TAB and embraced the simplicity of the arrangement, this chord chart is all you need to play the tune live.
Islands In The Stream Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Islands In The Stream chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Islands In The Stream iReal Pro.
Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key and alter Islands In The Streams‘ arrangement layout, should you not be happy with how I’ve displayed the chords.
Islands In The Stream TAB | Course Preview
In the course, you get TAB for all sections of Islands In The Stream, including what to play after the key change.
As a preview, here’s the intro.
A Motown Song Turned Country Duet
Islands In the Stream, written by the Bee Gees but performed by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, was a smash hit in 1983, claiming the #1 spot in many countries and selling over 4 million copies.
Originally written in a Motown style and intended for Diana Ross, the Bee Gees had to rework the song into a country duet when that plan fell through.
A very unusual version was recorded by the Bee Gees themselves in 2001, released on Their Greatest Hits: The Album. Before that, in 1997, the Bee Gees performed a reunion gig in Las Vegas called One Night Only. This version was far from the original, more straightforward and reminiscent of The Police’s Every Breath You Take.
There are also numerous cover versions, such as one by The Shires. I’ve included them all in the playlist at the top of this page.
After listening to these renditions, you’ll likely agree with me that you can’t beat the iconic version by Kenny and Dolly!
Islands In the Stream Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Islands In the Stream (Dolly Parton + Kenny Rogers) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
