About The Song
“Marina del Rey” is a mid-tempo country ballad written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus. It was recorded by George Strait for his second studio album, Strait from the Heart, released on June 3, 1982, by MCA Records. Produced by Blake Mevis, the track features a relaxed, steel-guitar-driven arrangement with subtle fiddle accents, showcasing Strait’s emerging neotraditional style. The album, Strait’s first to reach number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The song was released as the third single from the album in September 1982, following “Fool Hearted Memory” and “Amarillo by Morning.” It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number six, spending 18 weeks on the chart. Though not a number-one hit, it contributed to Strait’s early momentum, appearing during a period when his singles were steadily climbing higher.
The lyrics recount a fleeting romantic encounter during a vacation in Marina del Rey, California—a coastal district of Los Angeles known for its marina and beaches. The narrator meets a woman on the pier, spends an idyllic few days sailing, dining, and falling in love under the sun and stars. Despite the intensity, both know it is temporary; she returns to her life, leaving him with cherished memories he revisits whenever loneliness strikes. The chorus wistfully imagines returning to that place and time.
Dean Dillon, a prolific songwriter who penned numerous Strait hits, co-wrote the song with Frank Dycus after a real trip to Marina del Rey. Dillon later recounted that the location’s romantic atmosphere inspired the story directly. The track marked an early collaboration between Dillon and Strait, preceding major number-ones like “The Chair” and “Ocean Front Property.” Kenny Chesney covered the song on his 1995 album All I Need to Know, releasing it as a single that reached number 56 on the country chart.
Critics have praised “Marina del Rey” for its evocative imagery and Strait’s sincere delivery, with outlets like Country Universe highlighting its role in establishing his reputation for heartfelt storytelling. It appears on multiple Strait compilations, including Greatest Hits (1985), Strait Out of the Box (1995), and 50 Number Ones (2004, in a 2003 re-recording for the project). The song remains a fan favorite in live performances, often evoking nostalgia for early-1980s coastal country vibes.
Though overshadowed by the album’s bigger hits, “Marina del Rey” exemplifies Strait’s ability to convey transient romance with authenticity, cementing his transition from regional Texas act to national country star during his breakthrough era.
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Lyric
We said goodbye in Marina del Rey
“I had a good time” was the last thing I heard her say
As I walked away
And on the plane back to Tennessee
My mind comes across her memory
And yesterdayIn Marina del Rey
The sun and the sand and the soft ocean breeze
And the smell of her hair when she held me so near
In Marina del ReyWe went to a party on a yacht in the bay
Danced till the dawn and we sailed away
To a beach where we lay
And we talked about movies and music and dreams
And the way that she laughed made me weak in the knees
And I fell that dayIn Marina del Rey
The sun and the sand and the soft ocean breeze
And the smell of her hair when she held me so near
In Marina del ReySometimes I think about her when I’m lonely
And wish I could hold her one more time
And if I could go back I’d stayIn Marina del Rey
The sun and the sand and the soft ocean breeze
And the smell of her hair when she held me so near
In Marina del ReyWe said goodbye in Marina del Rey