The song’s lyrics tell about a beautiful island San Pedro and according to Madonna, was a tribute to the beauty and mystery of the Latin people. San Pedro is a town located on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize.
About This Song
“La Isla Bonita” is a track by the American pop icon Madonna, released in 1987 as a single from her third studio album, “True Blue.” Co-written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, and Bruce Gaitsch, the song blends pop with Latin influences, creating a lively and dance-worthy melody.
Translated to “The Beautiful Island” in Spanish, the song’s lyrics conjure a romantic and exotic atmosphere, whisking listeners away to a distant tropical paradise. The narrative unfolds the tale of a young girl who dreams of San Pedro, a captivating island where she yearns for love and the allure of its charms.
“La Isla Bonita” garnered praise from critics and achieved significant commercial success, becoming one of Madonna’s iconic tracks. It topped charts in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and reached the top four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
Just like I’d never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far awayTropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
[“The beautiful island”]And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullabyI fell in love with San Pedro
Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me
Te dijo te amo
[“He told you, ‘I love you.’”]
I prayed that the days would last
They went so fastTropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonitaAnd when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullabyI want to be where the sun warms the sky
When it’s time for siesta you can watch them go by
Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girlLast night I dreamt of San Pedro
It all seems like yesterday, not far awayTropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonitaAnd when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullabyTropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonitaAnd when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullabyTe dijo te amo
El dijo que te ama
[“He said he loves you”]La isla bonita
Your Spanish lullaby
Guitar chord
[Intro] C#m B C#m C#m C#m B C#m C#m Como puede ser verdad [Verse 1] C#m B C#m Last night I dreamt of San Pedro A C#m E B Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song C#m B C#m A young girl with eyes like the desert A C#m E B G#/C It all seems like yesterday, not far away [Chorus] C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free B B/F# F#m B C#m This is where I long to be La isla bonita G#m G#m7 F#m E And when the samba played The sun would set so high B B/F# F#m B C#m Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby C#m B C#m C#m C#m B C#m C#m [Verse 2] C#m B C#m I fell in love with San Pedro A C#m E B Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me C#m B C#m Te dijo te amo A/C# C#m E B G#/C I prayed that the days would last, they went so fast [Chorus] C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free B B/F# F#m B C#m This is where I long to be La isla bonita G#m G#m7 F#m E And when the samba played The sun would set so high B B/F# F#m B C#m Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby C#m B C#m C#m C#m B C#m C#m F#m D E Bsus2 I want to be where the sun warms the sky F#m D E When it's time for siesta you can watch them go by F#m D E Bsus2 Beautiful faces, no cares in this world F#m D E G#7/C# C#m Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy ... loves a girl C#m B C#m C#m (girl) A/C# C#m E B C#m B C#m Last night I dreamt of San Pedro A/C# C#m E B G#/C It all seems like yesterday, not far away C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free B B/F# F#m B C#m This is where I long to be La isla bonita G#m G#m7 F#m E And when the samba played The sun would set so high B B/F# F#m B C#m Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby A B C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free B B/F# F#m B C#m This is where I long to be La isla bonita G#m G#m7 F#m E And when the samba played The sun would set so high B B/F# F#m B C#m Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby A B C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E La la la la la la la B B/F# F#m B C#m Te di so te am-o G#m G#m7 F#m E La la la la la la la B B/F# F#m B C#m El dijo que te ama A B C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E La la la la la la la B B/F# F#m B C#m La is-la bon-i-ta C#m G#m G#m7 F#m E La la la la la la la B B/F# F#m B C#m Your Spanish lullaby A B C#m A B C#m A B C#m