Remember the Music and Help Create the All-Time Best Sailing Playlist
Last week we shared the news that David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash had died. He was 81 years old. While the news has been circulating all over the internet, we’ve been intrigued and inspired by all the comments left by our readers. While some refer to their crossing of paths on the water, or in a boatyard or marina, many readers reflected on Crosby’s music that made their sailing years all the more memorable. Valerie Soper summed it up nicely when she wrote, “We, as Baby Boomers, are blessed to have this beautiful music bookend our journey from launch (of awareness) to the end of our voyage on the other shore.”
While we could sit here for hours writing an extended sailing eulogy for Crosby, that’s not the purpose of this post. Besides, the emotion and insight that you, our dear readers, have left on the page are far more interesting than any easy-to-find information we could dig up from the internet. Instead, we decided to use this as an opportunity to curate a sailing playlist. Not just any old playlist dreamed up by Spotify or Apple Music bots, but one that is made up of your personal favorite sailing songs. We can understand if your list is long, but in the interest of getting this done, we ask you to list only your top three — your all-time, most-listened-to, never-get-tired-of, top three sailing songs. (It’s pretty clear that Southern Cross will make the final cut.)
For those sailors who are usually happy to skip the music and just listen to the wind or the jabbering of the crew, here are a few songs you might like to consider.
(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding; Son of a Son of a Sailor – Jimmy Buffett; Sailing – Rod Stewart; Sailing – Christopher Cross. Here’s a cool version of Jimmy Buffett’s A Pirate Looks at Forty, performed by Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. We could add more, but we want to hear about your songs — no decade or genre is excluded.
One more thing about David Crosby. Apparently he did not write Southern Cross and had a limited involvement in its original recording. (You can look up the reasons why.) He did, however, write Wooden Ships, together with Paul Kanter of Jefferson Airplane, while aboard Mayan,
We leave you with this YouTube clip of Wooden Ships, which visually has nothing to do with the song, but, if you were at Woodstock, might bring back some memories… or not.
Drop your three favorite sailing songs into the comments below.
Orinoco Flo Enya/Celtic Women
Cheeseburgers Jimmy Buffet
Anything Buffet
I just have one to add: “Slip Away” (1989), a classic by the Pat Metheny Group. Pretty tune, and a wonderful tempo that just glides across the ocean on a beam reach. You can see the water sparkling as you listen to this one — especially Pat’s guitar solo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHhvJ4k93Z4
Check out their video in Oz.
Wolverines, “A bloody great day to go sailing”
Cool change
One particular harbor
Believe it or not
David, is this ‘Cool Change’ by Little River Band?
Absolutely
Absolutely yes it is such an awesome song
I agree. I’m surprised how many sailors in this thread know about Little River Band! My all time favorite of theirs is “It’s a Long Way There” — the original version, not Spotify’s edited version.
Boat Drinks Jimmy Buffett
The Captain & the Kid J Buffett
Full Force Gale Van Morrison
If I Had a Boat lyle Lovett
Shadow Captain CSN
To the Sea Jack Johnson
Island Song Zac Brown
Sailing to Philadelphia Mark knopfler
Sloop John B Beach Boys
Trawlermans Sing Mark Knopfler
Pirate Callahan Divide
Where the Boat Leaves From Zac Brown
Salt Water Gospel Eli Young Band
The Shadows – Wonderful Land
If I Had A Boat Lyle Lovett
Boats to Build Jerry Jeff
Sloop John B Beach Boys
Here is a playlist I made about 10 years ago. It has all the classics and includes the theme song to Gilligan’s Island! Check it out. https://8tracks.com/fungod/h2o
Or on the top right hand side of my sail blog: http://h2uh0.blogspot.com/
Southern Cross
Into the Mystic
Dock of the Bay Otis
Sailing the Wind Loggins and Messina
Harbor Jimmy Buffet
Closer Grand Funk
Sail Away Enya
Talking at me Harry Nielson
Sailing Shoes Little Feat
Gilligan’s Island Theme Song
SF Bay Blues Blues Image
Montego Bay Bobby Bloom
Back to the Island Leon Russell
Sail on Sailor Beach Boys
Sailing Christoper Cross
Sailin’ Shoes – Little Feat
Sail Away – David Gray
Missed the Boat – Modest Mouse
Albatross by Peter Green and the original Fleetwood Mac. It’s not really about sailing per se but, Man…it sure sounds and feels like sailing.
Single Handed Sailor -Dire Straits
Closer to Home -Grand Funk RR
Tales of Brave Ulysses -Cream
Cecilio and Kapono – Sailing
Jerry Jeff Walker – Sloop J B
Harry Belafonte – Banana Boat
Commodores – Sail On
Jimmy Buffet – Son of a Son of a Sailor
Looking Glass – Brandy
Van Morrison – Into the Mystic & Moondance
Loggins & Messina – Sailing the Wind
Everybody’s Talkin at me – Fred Neil
Six Months in a Leaky Boat – Split Enz
Gordon Lightfoot: Christian Island, High and Dry
The Dolphin song- Fred Neil
Everybody’s talking – Fred Neil
Son of a Sailor- Jimmy Buffet
Southern Cross
“No Fear” by Bay Area local Stephanie Teel
Southern Cross
Cool Change – Little River Band
Dreamland – Third World
Come Sail Away – Styx
Anything Tracy Chapman was always a great listen on a delivery watch especially “I Used to Be a Sailor”
It’s not directly a song about sailing, but for high intensity action – Danger Zone really fits.
One Particular Harbor – Buffett
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Brandy You’re a Fine Girl – Looking Glass
Fisherman’s Blues, The Waterboys
Moon River- Audrey Hepburn
Lonely Looking Sky – Neil Diamond
Wide River To Cross – Diana Krall
Cool Change – Little River Band
Sail Away – Enya
The Skye Boat Song
Life On A Boat – Gene Mitchell
Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band (with Jimmy Buffett)
Kokomo – The Beach Boys
I’m surprised nobody mentioned Great Big Sea, one of the best Canadian bands ever. These boys are from Newfoundland, and they are celebrating their 30th anniversary of their start this year. They have mounds of VERY VERY cool sailing songs (when I discovered them, I stopped listening to Buffett).
Excursion Around the Bay – https://youtu.be/Kqz6mLRYHj4?t=45
The River Driver – https://youtu.be/1ejo_CTT1nM?t=24
Captain Kidd – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyhiqq-FzDU&list=RDKqz6mLRYHj4&index=5
I’m a Rover – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVTsoOO581w&list=RDKqz6mLRYHj4&index=11
Wave Over Wave – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk9xIw6-aUg&list=RDKqz6mLRYHj4&index=19
Lukey (with the Chieftains!) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-edW2NZ_WE
Boston and St. Johns – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdqVLL7YX_M
And so so many more!!!
David and I are flying to Vancouver in May to see one of the founders sing acoustic. I’ve been following them since I saw them open for Barenaked Ladies in Mountain View about 25 years ago… I cannot recommend these guys enough for sailing music.
HI, I agree with you. Great Big Sea is a great group. When sailing they are a great group to listen to especially
after we pass the rum bottle.
Terry
Green Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf
Salty Dog – Procol Harum
Ride Captain Ride – Blues Image
Sail Away – Randy Newman
I’m on a Boat – The Lonely Island
G’day, this is Australia calling 🇦🇺
Land Down Under – Men at Work (and anthem of the greatest sailing nation in the world!)
Six Months in a Leaky Boat – Crowded House
Waves – Miguel (Tame Impala remix)
America’s Cup – Pond
Meme bonus song: Sail – Awolnation
Lightfoot – Ghosts of Cape Horn, Marie Christine,
Many of my favorites are already on the list but I have a new one for me:
Sailboat – Kenny Chesney
Lee Shore, by David Crosby (seems essential given the original prompt)
Lost Sailor, by Bob Weir & John Barlow