05 Aug Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist
Music and sailing just seem to go together – we all have our favorite sailing songs, right? There’s something about the wind and the water, the motion of the boat, and that laid back sailing lifestyle that begs to be put to music. A good sailing song can transport you to another time and place – where things are simpler, and your only worry is the strength and direction of the breeze.
One cold and snowy day last winter, I asked a group of sailors for their favorite sailing songs. I took their suggestions, added some of my personal favorites, and came up with Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist – just in time to be the soundtrack for the rest of your summer sailing adventures.
This list covers a lot of ground – from Harry Belafonte to Jimmy Buffett to Led Zeppelin to Zac Brown. Because this playlist was generated by sailors, for sailors, there are songs about boats, sailors, the ocean, islands, and – of course – rum. From standards like “Sail On, Sailor” and “Southern Cross” to newer classics like (slightly profane, but hilarious) “I’m On A Boat” and the beautifully melancholy “Boat Song” there’s a little something here for everyone.
You can listen here by clicking on any of the songs in the list, or subscribe to the playlist on Spotify. And for you music nerds out there, here’s the complete list in alphabetical order by song.
Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist
| Song | Artist |
| All At Sea | Jamie Cullum |
| Back To The Island | Leon Russell |
| Banana Boat (Day-O) | Harry Belafonte |
| Banana Republics | Jimmy Buffett |
| Beyond The Sea | Bobby Darin |
| Boat Drinks | Jimmy Buffett |
| Boat Song | Woodkid |
| The Boat Song | Set Sail |
| Boats To Build | Guy Clark |
| Cabin By The Sea | Dirty Heads |
| Cake By The Ocean | DNCE |
| Castaway | Zac Brown Band |
| Calypso | John Denver |
| Coconut | Harry Nilsson |
| Come Sail Away | Styx |
| Cool Change | Little River Band |
| Down By The Seaside | Led Zeppelin |
| Drunken Sailor | Glamrock Brothers |
| Edge Of The Ocean | Ivy |
| Full Sail | The Beach Boys |
| I’m On A Boat | The Lonely Island |
| If I Had A Boat | Lyle Lovett |
| Into The Mystic | Van Morrison |
| Island In The Sun | Weezer |
| Jamaica Farewell | Harry Belafonte |
| Kokomo | The Beach Boys |
| Landfall | Jimmy Buffett |
| Lost Coastlines | Okkervil River |
| Mutineer | Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires |
| Nautical Wheeler | Jimmy Buffett |
| One Particular Harbor | Jimmy Buffett |
| Only The Ocean | Jack Johnson |
| Orinoco Flow | Enya |
| A Pirate Looks At Forty | Jack Johnson & Dave Matthews |
| Rolling Sea | Vetiver |
| Rum And Coca-Cola | The Andrews Sisters |
| Sail Away | Flipsyde |
| Sail Away | David Gray |
| Sail Into The Sun | Gentleman Hall |
| Sail On | Commodores |
| Sail On, Sailor | The Beach Boys |
| Sailboat | Ben Rector |
| Sailboat For Sale | Toby Keith & Jimmy Buffett |
| A Sailboat In The Moonlight | Billie Holliday |
| Sailin’ Shoes | Little Feat |
| Sailin’ The Wind | Loggins & Messina |
| Sailing | Rod Stewart |
| Sailing | Christopher Cross |
| Sailing On The Seven Seas | OMD |
| Sailor’s Blues | The Strumbellas |
| Sailors Lament | Credence Clearwater Revival |
| Sea Cruise | Frankie Ford |
| Seaside | The Kooks |
| Set Sail | The Movement |
| Single-Handed Sailor | Dire Straits |
| (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay | Otis Redding |
| Sloop John B | The Beach Boys |
| Something Bout A Boat | Patrick Davis |
| Son Of A Son Of A Sailor | Jimmy Buffett |
| Soul Of A Sailor | Kenny Chesney |
| Southern Cross | Crosby, Stills & Nash |
| Tin Cup Chalice | Jimmy Buffett |
| When The Ship Comes In | Bob Dylan |
Hopefully you’ll find your favorite sailing songs here – and discover some new boat tunes as well. Enjoy, and happy sailing!
Get ready for sailing season! We’ve covered all the bases for you – our 3 part series will have you ready to get on the water asap.
Part 1: Safety First
Part 2: Sailing Bag Essentials
Part 3: What to Wear Sailing