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 song by the American pop icon Madonna. It was released in 1987 as a single from her third studio album, “True Blue.” The song was written by Madonna, along with Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch. “La Isla Bonita” fuses pop with Latin influences, giving it a catchy and danceable sound.
The song’s title translates to “The Beautiful Island” in Spanish, and the lyrics evoke a romantic and exotic ambiance, transporting listeners to a faraway tropical destination. The narrative tells the story of a young girl who dreams of the enchanting island of San Pedro, where she longs to find love and experience its allure.
“La Isla Bonita” received critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming one of Madonna’s signature songs. It topped the charts in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, it reached the top four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Video
Lyric
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