Tender love is blind/
It requires a dedication.

It was Heraclitus who said you can never step in the same river twice. The Bee Gees attempted to take that idea, twist it a bit and make a song about it with “Islands in the Stream”. The version you know is the duet between Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers.

Occasionally the Bee Gees would perform it too. They played it similarly and it was equally great. The idea of the stream being that life (the stream) is moving fast by us, but our love together can be an island that gives life meaning and stability. It is a nice way to think about love.

“Islands in the Stream” has a really strong chorus. I also think Parton’s vocal is particularly strong. The song has a very eighties feel, but it still manages to transcend it. I think it is because of how well written the song is and also because of how well Roger’s voice blends with Parton’s.

Islands In the Stream 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

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

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb