I've been to Pensacola, but never to Rome
I've walked the waters of the Gulf of Mexico
I always liked the bay over the oceanside
The calmer waters seemed more inviting
But maybe that was because it was long ago
And now I've grown old and more practical
The islands are a-calling
The islands are a-calling
I'm flying in, drinking champagne
On this pleasure boat
Just like the California coast
The islands are a-calling
The islands are a-calling
You told me to go, and have a good time
That it'd be silly to let it slip by
So I took your advice
So I'm drinking margaritas on a Saturday night
You are looking real fine and you're feeling alright
But my world came crashing down right as I got off the plane
When a phone call came in and this is what they said:
"You've got to go home"
"You've got to go home"
The islands are a-calling
The islands are a-calling
I'm flying in, drinking champagne
On this pleasure boat
Just like the California coast
On this island in the middle of the ocean
I'm still wearing my bathrobe with the windows open
Eating breakfast of fancy coffee and eggs
There's palm trees and driftwood just like Hemingway said
But when I called you on the phone, I heard your rambling words
You must have known it was me in a state of disbelief
There's parties going on every night of the week
But the ghosts of the ocean are talking most loudly
You've got to go home
You've got to go home
The islands are a-calling
The islands are a-calling
You told me to go, and have a good time
That it'd be silly to let it slip by
So I took your advice
You let me go
You must have known
That your pleasure was gone
You let me go
You must have known
That your pleasure was gone
Flying out, I see the coral reef
Just like a map, how it shows impossible relief
I never liked planes, but it's naïve to think
That it was better when you couldn't see a thing
If this were another time, I don't know where I'd be
I might have never left your side or miss it entirely
But here we are on this beautiful day
Eating for pleasure, together one last time
The islands are a-calling
The islands are a-calling
I'm flying in, drinking champagne
On this pleasure boat
Just like the California coast