The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle Sing-Along

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DisneyVillain
September 07, 2008

The music and lyrics for the Gilligan's Island theme song, "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle", were written by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle. There were two versions of the theme during the run o...

The music and lyrics for the Gilligan's Island theme song, "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle", were written by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle.

There were two versions of the theme during the run of the show, one for the first season and another for the second and third. In the original theme song, the Professor and Mary Ann were referred to as "and the rest". Actors Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells were originally considered "second-billed co-stars", but with the growing popularity of their characters, their names were inserted into the lyrics. Wells has stated that it was Denver who went to the studio executives to get them added to the opening credits. The studio originally refused, stating that it would cost too much to re-shoot and re-score the opening. Denver pointed out that it was in his contract that he could have his name anywhere he wanted in the credits, so they could move it to the end credits along with Johnson and Wells. The studio capitulated. Wells said that Denver never mentioned this to anyone in the cast, and she did not find out until years after the show ended what he had done.

The first season version was recorded by The Wellingtons and had a folk music sound. It starts with an acoustic guitar strumming for two bars before the lyrics start. The instrumentation, which includes a slide guitar, is subdued and very Hawaiian sounding.

The second and third season version was not credited to a particular group in the credits, but according to Russell Johnson in his book Here on Gilligan's Isle, it was performed by a group called The Eligibles. It begins with a mini-fanfare, and has a more traditional pop music sound but with spaghetti western-like underpinnings. The instrumentation is much more prominent in this version, and it does not have any slide guitar.

The show's original pilot episode featured a calypso theme song with different lyrics. Notably, the original length of the voyage was "a six-hour ride", not "a three-hour tour."

The theme song has been covered by many bands, most notably Bowling for Soup for the TBS show The Real Gilligan's Island.

This one is season 2 and three and I also have the ending as well.

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2010mustang1 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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O_O better than the love boat

ShinbiBelldandy (2 months ago) Show Hide

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I used to watch this when it aired daily on TBS, now Nick at Nite wont even run it. It's supposed to be about classic TV & yet...there isnt any on there! I miss TV land from the 90s so bad....Block Party Summer is gone!! ;-;

doalisaluver (3 months ago) Show Hide

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R.I.P Bob Denver

We'll miss you, Little Buddy(NOTE: He dies after season 2 of the reality show "The REAL Gilligan's Island")

gneville33 (3 months ago) Show Hide

-6

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aero181 (7 months ago) Show Hide

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I need to sing this song for quire at school..

Brentomus (5 months ago) Show Hide

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You seem upset by this. BLASPHEMY!!!

aero181 (7 months ago) Show Hide

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love this song..

peperomochi (9 months ago) Show Hide

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NOOO YOU ARE JEFF.
I AM SURE NOW.

*looked at his page*

sHEMz93 (7 months ago) Show Hide

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who's jeff???... i feel dumb i dunno

manofsteel7272 (9 months ago) Show Hide

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what no....
i am the jeffrey
>;]

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The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle Sing-Along

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