Thunder Island

Album: Thunder Island (1978)
Charted: 9
Play Video
  • Ooh yeah

    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)

    Sha-la-la-la-la-la, my lady
    In the sun with your hair undone
    Can you hear me now calling your name from across the bay
    A summer's day laughing and a-hiding
    Chasing love out on Thunder Island

    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    Hey, hey, hey, hey
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)

    She was the color of the Indian summer
    And we shared the hours without number
    Until one day when the sky turned dark
    And the winds grew wild
    Caught by the rain and blinded by the lightning
    We rode the storm out there on Thunder Island

    I held her close until the storm passed
    And we fell down laughing in the wet grass
    Both our bodies drying in the sunshine, sweet sunshine

    So sha-la-la-la-la-la, my land
    In the sun with your dress undone
    Now every mile away and every day
    Cuts a little deeper
    I'll remember the nights in the cool sand
    Making love out on Thunder Island

    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    Hey, hey, hey, hey
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    Goodbye, Thunder Island
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do)
    (Do-do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do) Writer/s: Jay Ferguson
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Tony Z from San DiegoAlways loved this song and Shakedown Cruise. I mean, I wasn't even a teenager and I could tell that these songs were underrated even at that time. I have them on multiple playlists on my youtube music
  • Don JonesGreat song, the doo doo doo part is so catchy too.
  • Bender from NyAlways thought this sounded like a lost Eagles track. Joe walsh explains it.
  • MattIs there a real Thunder Island? Is this song based on reality?
  • Al from DetroitHis top 40 hit Shakedown Cruise had an boatswain's whistle towards the end of the song. He should have stuck with the Nautical theme, he had more success.
  • Tony from San DiegoJust a great f--kin' song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 1st 1978, Jay Ferguson performed "Thunder Island" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was in its first of two weeks at #9 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, and that was also its peak position on the chart...
    {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 11th 1977, "Thunder Island" by Jay Ferguson entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #88; and fifteen weeks later on March 26th, 1978 it peaked at #9 {for 2 weeks} and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
    As stated above, as solo artist, he had one other Top 100 record, "Shakedown Cruise", it reached #31 and stayed on the chart for 14 weeks...
    In 1969 he was a member of the group Spirit; and on March 9th of that year the group's biggest hit, "I Got A Line On You", peaked at #25 for 2 weeks...
    Then in 1972 as leader of the group Jo Jo Gunne they scored their only Top 100 record with "Run Run Run", it reached #27 {for 2 weeks} on April 30th of that year...
    John Arden 'Jay" Ferguson will celebrate his 68th birthday come next May 10th {2015}.
  • Brad from Barry, TxMy favorite song of all time...well, at least for the time being. Just a great song with some fine vocals by Jay Ferguson and you really can't beat Joe Walsh on the slide guitar. Thanks to Songfacts for finally giving us an entry here!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?