Songs About Islands

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Following my last column, a second reader request. Her rationale was that in times of lockdown, we all become our own little islands. Fair enough.

When asked about this one, I was somewhat reluctant. I mean, how many songs could there be about islands? I went through song titles in my head, and when I could easily come up with five, I realised, that this was not going to be as tough as I had at first thought. And, sure enough, I easily found enough to fill a decent length column! I even had to leave a couple out (sorry Taylor Swift and Yes fans).


That means these are all songs about islands. The word "Island" or derivatives is in the title, and that's about it. Apart from that, the usual rules apply – one song per artist, one version of each song, I need to like it, in my collection. I also opted against comedy songs because the one I like felt rather jarring amongst this collection.

And so, I hope you like these tracks about islands.
'Rock Island Line' by Lonnie Donegan (1955)

This is about a railway that crosses onto Rock Island (now called Arsenal Island) in the US state of Illinois. It was first recorded in the early twentieth century, but I Donegan's is my favourite version, a song that is cited as giving rise to the skiffle craze in the UK, leading directly to The Beatles. It starts here.
'Island In The Sun' by Harry Belafonte (1957)

Jamaican calypso music by the man who popularised it, and who I have yet to hear be matched. This song of longing – as are a few on this list – is heart-felt when Belafonte sings it; he co-wrote it as well and he sounds like he means it.
'I Wanna Take A Trip To The Islands' by The Surfaris (1964)

While best known for an instrumental, the Surfaris were a standard 1960s surf music band and most of their songs had lyrics. This one is a great example of that, a song that could easily have been recorded by Jan & Dean at the time.
'Living On An Island' by Status Quo (1979)

A slower song from the band about being forced to live on the isle of Jersey for a year for tax purposes. Seriously. It's strange lyrically, and yet still a good track that does stand out amongst their oeuvre.
'Wedding Cake Island' by Midnight Oil (1980)

An amazing instrumental from Australia's foremost political band . This is from the four-track EP Bird Noises, and is just a stunning piece. The actual island is a popular surfing spot near Sydney, off the coast of Coogee Beach.
'Fantasy Island' by Tight Fit (1982)

This is just a fun but of 1980s pop that I enjoy so much, from a band I really like. But this song has a weird history. Originally performed in Dutch, it was written to try to get a place in the Eurovision Song Contest, but came second. Then, only months after the song was released, Tight Fit put together this English version and charted with it. So Eurovision rears its head again!
'I Am An Island' by Richard Clapton (1982)

Clapton is one of Australia's finest pub-rockers, and he released so many wonderful songs. This one, a charting single in the early 80s, was the first one I heard (I have since discovered his earlier works) and it spoke to me. Lyrically strong, it is a great tune.
'Islands In The Stream' by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1984)

Yeah, I like this track, know all the lyrics, sing along to it too often… so what? This is such a wonderful track, written by the Bee Gees, and has been sampled a few times by hip-hop artists as well as covered now and then. But nothing compares to these two country music icons singing it together.
'My Island Home' by Warumpi Band (1987)

A song about Elcho Island off the coast the Australia's Northern Territory, this is about longing and being homesick. Probably better known through the Christine Anu version, it has come represent all of Australia, one of many unofficial national anthems the country claims.
'Islands' by Mike Oldfield (1987)

With Bonnie Tyler supplying vocals, this track from my favourite album of 1987 is so wonderful. About how we are all islands, isolated from everyone else, in our own way, Tyler's voice is so good over Oldfield's wonderful music.
'Rock Island' by Jethro Tull (1989)

This song is not about the Illinois island, but about every person having a place – and it might not even be physical – where they can go in order to feel safe. This is flute-led hard rock (yes, that is a thing) and is a fine song.
'To The Island' by Crowded House (2021)

From Crowded House's most recent album , this song about New Zealand is a percussion-led track that still feels different to a lot of the band's output.
There we go – a dozen songs about islands. There were a few others that almost made the cut, but I think this is a decent list as it stands. A lot of 80s songs, for the first time in a while, but I think they all stand up.

Hope you enjoyed this list!
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