The Gilligan’s Island theme song, “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island,” is a memorable tune that immediately transports listeners to the comedic adventures of the stranded castaways. Created by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle, the theme song perfectly captures the essence of the beloved sitcom.
Gilligan’s Island originally aired on September 26, 1964, in the USA, and concluded on April 17, 1967, after three seasons and 98 episodes. Directed by a talented team including Rod Amateau, Jack Arnold, Ida Lupino, Stanley Z. Cherry, and Richard Donner, the show followed the humorous misadventures of a group of castaways on a deserted island.
The popular and lighthearted melody of the theme song, along with its descriptive lyrics, introduced viewers to the memorable characters and their comical predicaments. The Gilligan’s Island theme song has since become an enduring symbol of the show’s charm and continues to evoke nostalgia for fans of the classic sitcom.
Song Lyrics
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship
The mate was a mighty sailing man
The skipper brave and sure
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour a three hour tour
The weather started getting rough
The tiny ship was tossed
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow would be lost the Minnow would be lost
The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan
The Skipper too
A millionaire and his wife
A movie star
The Professor and Mary Ann
Here on Gilligan’s Isle
So this is the tale of our castaways
They’re here for a long long time
They’ll have to make the best of things
It’s an uphill climb
The first mate and his Skipper too
Will do their very best
To make the others comfortable
In their tropic island nest
No phone no lights, no motor car
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It’s primitive as can be
So join us here each week my friend
You’re sure to get a smile
From seven stranded castaways
Here on Gilligan’s Isle
