Top 16 Songs about Sailing
The word sailing can conjure up all sorts of images, especially in the minds of songwriters. That makes it a great subject; therefore, I am going to take a closer look at the best songs about sailing.
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Thinking sailing can remind you of beautiful locations and tranquil hours spent lazing around on the water. But it can also create powerful images of storms and dangerous journeys. Sometimes, we forget just how dangerous the sea can be.
We will look at songs that recount historic sea journeys and those that undertook them. Also, we will see how some writers use the stormy sea as a metaphor for hard times. And there will be songs that reflect on the beauty of the ocean. There is a wealth of material available, so let’s get started.
Top 16 Songs about Sailing
Sailing by Christopher Cross
A good place to start is with this track from Christopher Cross. Released in 1979, it reached #1 in America and Canada and #48 in the UK. It was actually one of the first all-digital recordings to make the charts.
He wrote the song for his first album, the self-titled Christopher Cross. It was only after he realized its popularity that it was released as a single. Essentially a Soft Rock song, it helped to establish a new sub-genre of what became known as “Yacht Rock.” That genre was represented by the types of music the wealthy liked to play while out on their boats.
The inspiration for the song came from experiences of his youth. He found that while on sailing trips with a friend, he could leave the troubles of the world behind. Almost as if they didn’t exist. He said it was liberating that sailing could offer that.
The Single-handed Sailor by Dire Straits
If ever you want someone to write a historically accurate song about an actual event, then very few are better at it than Mark Knopfler. The “Single-handed Sailor” is a track from the album Communique. The song is about British icon Sir Francis Chichester – sailor, airman, adventurer, and all-around hero.
He achieved many things in his long life. But, his circumnavigation of and his solo voyage around the world in his tiny boat, “Gipsy Moth IV,” in 1966 is what this song is all about.
As is typical of Knopfler…
The song contains real references to the epic and extremely dangerous journey that took Chichester a year to complete. It should be remembered that Chichester was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 1958.
He was advised to have a lung removed, or he might only have six months to live. The diagnosis proved inaccurate. It was, in fact, a curable lung disease. His wife put him on a special diet, and by 1966, it had disappeared,
Arise, Sir Francis
On his return to the UK, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth the Second. She used the same sword Queen Elizabeth the First had knighted Sir Francis Drake with in 1581. That was after Drake had completed the second circumnavigation of the globe.
This made the ceremony even more special to Chichester. He viewed it as a huge honor, which, of course, it was, especially to a sailor and adventurer.
Sailor’s Lament by Creedence Clearwater Revival
When their sixth studio album, Pendulum, was released in 1970, Creedence Clearwater Revival was already an established band. Sometimes, it’s hard to define their sound and neatly place them in a genre. They were a mixture of Southern Rock and Pop but often strayed outside of those boundaries as they did with this track.
This song has more of a Folk Music feel with plenty of acoustic instruments that jog along at a steady Soft Rock pace. Some nice harmonies give it almost a gospel feel. They spent more time on this album, in particular this song, than just about anything they had done previously.
It was never released as a single. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain“, also from Pendulum, was considered a safer option. As a commercial release, they were probably right. However, this is still an excellent track. That’s why I included it among the best songs about sailing.
Sailing by Sutherland Brothers
I am sure that some people are wondering why on earth I haven’t included the Rod Stewart version. The simple answer to that is that I prefer this version. The song was written by Gavin Sutherland, and they released it in 1972 and reached #54 in the UK.
It was recorded with a very Celtic feel that dominated the very easy-going production. Interestingly, the song has been misinterpreted over the years. It is not a song about a man getting on a ship to be with his girl who is far away.
Instead, it is a reflective comment. One that can apply to everyone on their journey through life to some semblance of peace in later years. The sailing is a metaphorical description of that journey.
Sailing Down My Golden River by Pete Seeger
These days, most people see Pete Seeger as just another American Folk singer from a long time ago. Often, they know nothing about the influence he had on the music we hear today. His influence extended to artists like Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez. Seeger was one of those singer-songwriters that inspired others.
He could sound happy with some of his songs. But, he could also be deadly serious, as is the case with “Sailing Down My Golden River.” It was a track on his 1973 album, Rainbow Race.
He wrote several songs with a river or water theme, but this is probably his best-known. He wrote the song in the 60s, and it is aimed at the plight of the Hudson River and its pollution.
Sail Away by David Gray
Even talented songwriters like David Gray can get stuck when writing a song. That is just what happened with this track because it took him years to finish.
It finally found its way into what most people would agree was his breakthrough album, White Ladder. At first, it was not a commercial success. But, it was released again in 2000 and went to #1 in the UK and Ireland. “Sail Away,” the single was released in 2001 and reached #26 in the UK and #31 in Ireland.
The song has many interpretations. However, he does seem to be using the idea of sailing away with his love as a metaphor for just wanting to be alone with her. Can’t think of a better way of achieving that.
Red Sails In The Sunset – Nat King Cole
This is a song written by Jimmy Kennedy and Hugh Williams and was inspired by experiences that Kennedy had in Ireland. He would watch a local sailboat called the “Kitty of Coleraine” coming and going with its distinctive red sails. The song came to him one evening as he watched the boat sail away in the sunset.
It was written in 1935. But, most people will be familiar with the version recorded by Nat King Cole on his album, The Unforgettable Nat King Cole, from 1952. The song is actually about the end of a love affair.
Sloop John B by The Beach Boys
A track from one of the albums that changed music forever – The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. It started life as a folk song from Nassau in the Bahamas. Originally it was called “John B Sails,” and it seems to have been first written down in 1916.
It is a true story of a shipwreck off the coast of Nassau caused by drunkenness and trouble with the law by some members of the crew. The narrator constantly tells us, “I wanna go home.” The wreck still lies in Governors Harbor, Nassau.
A Modern Folk Music Sound
It was first recorded by the Kingston Trio in 1958 as a simple Folk song. But, it is The Beach Boys’ version we are most familiar with. They added some extra instruments, changed a few of the lyrics, and made it into a more modern Folk-Pop song.
It was released as a single in 1966 and went to #2 in the UK and #3 in America. Also, it made the top spot in seven other countries. It remains one of their most popular songs. As well as a great song about sailing.
Sail on Sailor by The Beach Boys
We shouldn’t be surprised that the “Kings of Surf” produced a few sailing-inspired songs. So, let’s stay with The Beach Boys for another nautical tale. Or, so the title would have us believe. This song, though, is using sailing metaphorically to describe a particularly rocky period in the band’s history.
By 1973, Brian Wilson had become almost impossible for the rest of the band to work with. There were several reasons for this which we don’t need to go into here. The only one still communicating with him efficiently was his songwriting collaborator, Van Dyke Parks.
Demands
Warner Bros., their record company, demanded a single for the next upcoming album, Holland, to be released soon. They were on the brink of scrapping the whole album because of internal and external problems.
Parks came up with most of this song which was given to Warner Bros and included as the opening track and as a single. The single failed conspicuously, reaching #79 in America and not making the top 100 in the UK. A shame because it is quite a good track, and it deserved better. But, all the problems surrounding them were affecting their public image.
A Sailor’s Life by Fairport Convention
Over now to the British Folk-Rock group Fairport Convention. An interesting band, and we should have a brief look at them. They were born out of the Folk Music revival in the 60s in the UK. Their early material was taken from the work of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Joan Baez.
However, they were labeled the “British Jefferson Airplane” because their sound at times was more Rock than Folk. But singer Sandy Denny and violinist Dave Swarbrick ensured they retained the Folk style for which they were well-known.
A First
Swarbrick, as a Folk musician, was revered. Most Folk Music “fiddlers” that came after always say he was their inspiration. And, he really came to the fore on “Sailors Life.” This was the first time that a traditional British Folk song was combined with something approaching a Rock beat.
Already a well-covered song already, Fairport Convention released their version in 1969. Although it was not released as a single, it was included in their 1969 album, Unhalfbricking. It is a traditional folk song where a girl is talking about her love for a sailor, even though he is away for much of the time.
Lost Sailor by Grateful Dead
Let’s have a change of mood now with this track from their album, Go To Heaven, from 1980. From what I have heard, this band always produced a better performance on stage than they did on record. Go To Heaven was not appreciated as an album at the time, but is still considered one of their best studio recordings.
I said this was a mood change. That’s because, up until now, the songs on this list have mostly had a positive and even happy feel. As you will gather from the title, this is a song about a sailor lost at sea.
Struggling to survive in one of the harshest environments in a fierce storm brings its own horrors. And, there comes a point when you realize you are at the mercy of this fearful natural element. This, as I said, is not one of those jolly sailor songs. Rather, it is a reminder that the sea can be a dangerous place, even for experienced sailors.
Captain Kennedy by Neil Young
Another songwriter who tells a good story is Neil Young. This song he wrote in honor of Captain Kennedy, a mariner and a soldier. It was included in Young’s 1980 album Hawks and Doves. That was an album of opposites. Quieter, more thoughtful, and peaceful tracks on one side, “The Doves.” More aggressive and critical lyrics for the other side, “The Hawks.”
It is the story of a young soldier following in his father’s footsteps and going off to war. As well as very historical, it is also a very personal song. His father had lost his ship in battle, and he hopes the same thing won’t happen to him.
When the Ship Comes In by Bob Dylan
When Dylan gets angry, you know someone’s going to get it. In the case of this song, it was aimed at a range of things, as so many of his songs at this time were. “When the Ship Comes In” is Bob at his angry best. It was taken from his iconic album, The Times They Are A-Changin’ from 1964.
The song was written while Dylan, who had been denied entry to his hotel because of his attire, was not happy. It was thought that he looked like he could be trouble, and the hotel manager turned him away.
Joan Baez, who at the time was better known than Dylan and may have been recognized by the hotel staff, sorted it out. She stepped in and assured the hotel staff he would be fine. Dylan got to his room, and we got another protest song. Not long after he had written the song, Dylan and Baez sang it together on the ‘March on Washington’ in 1963. He also performed it for Live Aid in 1985.
Sail On by Free
This was a track credited to the band as songwriters and included on their 1972 album Free At Last. It was also on the B-side of their single “Little Bit Of Love“, which reached #13 on the UK chart. A song that uses the sea and sailing as a metaphor for overcoming life’s troubles. It encourages people to be patient, and things will work out.
Furthermore, it is a song that talks about appreciating the good things in life. It uses an excellent line that says that the good things do not always come “wrapped in cellophane.” “Sail On” was written and released when the band was at its productive best.
The Downeaster Alexa by Billy Joel
Down to the last two songs about sailing on this list and one that could very easily have been my top choice. Billy Joel is one of the greatest piano-based songwriters and is in the same class as Sir Elton John. This is, for me, one of the best songs he has ever written. And he has written some great stuff over the years.
He is sailing his boat, trying to eke out a living as a fisherman. But, as he says, there is nothing left now for people who work the sea. People have sold their homes and left, but he has a wife and child to feed and clothe. He says he knows there is fish out there somewhere, “But where God only knows.”
A great song with outstanding lyrics and an excellent melody with plenty of emotion built in. A song that tells the story of the decline of an industry that goes back generations from the way things used to be
A Sailboat in the Moonlight by Billie Holiday
And so, to the final track on this list. This is a song from one of the true greats, Billie Holliday. It is a song written by John Jacob Loeb and Carmen Lombardo, which she recorded with her orchestra in 1937.
This is an interesting song to finish this list. The quality of the song is not of the highest standard when compared with some of the others on this list. But she can take an ordinary song and turn it into something special.
It is very representative of the 30s and 40s style, so popular at the time, but it has more of a Jazz feel to it than some. It is a song about the delights of a sailboat ride at night on a warm June evening with a loved one. She calls it “A heaven just for two.” The track features jazz saxophonist Lester Young.
Want More Songs with Water Themes?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Top Songs About Rainbows of All Time, the Top 10 Songs About Storms, the Top Songs About Snow, the Best Songs About Rain, the Top Songs About the Sea, and the Best Songs About Thunder and Lightning for more incredible song selections.
Songs About Sailing – Final Thoughts
You might expect there to be plenty of sailing-themed songs, and you would be right. Choosing the best is more of a problem. It is all subjective, of course, and what appeals to one doesn’t appeal to another.
However, I have tried to cover a range of musical styles, meanings, eras, and genres. And included some great artists along the way. Hopefully, you enjoyed my selections. If you have any songs to add, please let me know in the comments.
Until next time, enjoy the music.
