Sail On Sailor

Album: Holland (1973)
Charted: 49
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  • I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
    Through restful waters and deep commotion
    Often frightened, unenlightened
    Sail on, sail on sailor

    I wrest the waters, fight Neptune's waters
    Sail through the sorrows of life's marauders
    Unrepenting, often empty
    Sail on, sail on sailor

    Caught like a sewer rat alone but I sail
    Bought like a crust of bread, but oh do I wail

    Seldom stumble, never crumble
    Try to tumble, life's a rumble
    Feel the stinging I've been given
    Never ending, unrelenting
    Heartbreak searing, always fearing
    Never caring, persevering
    Sail on, sail on, sailor

    I work the seaways, the gale-swept seaways
    Past shipwrecked daughters of wicked waters
    Uninspired, drenched and tired
    Wail on, wail on, sailor

    Always needing, even bleeding
    Never feeding all my feelings
    Damn the thunder, must I blunder
    There's no wonder all I'm under
    Stop the crying and the lying
    And the sighing and my dying

    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    Sail on, sail on sailor Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

  • Billy Claire from Outside Boston MaI'm confused.
    They built and recorded at a studio in the Netherlands, yet Dennis didn't finish his vocal because he got a new surfboard? Where did he go surfing in Holland?
  • Jc from KentuckyA truly wonderful song, one of my favorite from the Beach Boys. Blondie Chaplin's vocal is really nice, but I'd like the song even more had Dennis sung it, I think, particularly given his tragic end. How like him to have blown off the session to go surfing -- such a complicated, talented, tortured soul. Pacific Ocean Blue is a masterpiece.
  • Eva from Sarasota, FlI moved to Florida in October of 1971 .....I lived in Brooklyn NY and heard sail on sailor before I left for Florida...what up with that?
  • Terry N. Croup from Hinckley, MinnesotaAlways needing, even bleeding
    Never feeding all my feelings
    Damn the thunder, must I blunder
    There's no wonder all I'm under
    Stop the crying and the lying
    And the sighing and my dying
    Sail on, sail on sailor
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Terry Well done, BBs
  • Nancy Harabedian from Broadview Heights, OhI love this song!!!! I love the blues vibe!!!! I'm not a Beach Boys fan, but I really really love this tune! I listen to it over and over again and never tire of it.
  • Dt from Gulf Breeze, FlGreat tune that has never received the attention it deserves. Very untypical BB tune, very funky R & B sound.
  • George from Belleville, NjThis is a solid song.The melody is strong and the tempo is just right,a little slowed down,but just what the song needs.It sounds like a hit tune.
  • Steven from Los Angeles, CaLulu best know for her song "To Sir With Love" recorded a great cover of this song. It was on Lulu's 2002 album "Together". The album was a collection of covers featuring duets with various singers. She sang this song accompanied by Sting. I heard it for the first time yesterday and instantly loved it.

    This is one of my all time favorite Beach Boy's songs, along with "Girl Don't Tell Me" so when I came across this cover I decided to give it a listen thinking it would be awful. I was pleasantly surprised!
  • Vinny from Dublin, IrelandBy far the greatest of the Beach Boys albums. I am a 70's and 80's Beach Boys fan and this is the first album I bought. All of my buddies at college bought this album. Not having this album in '73 or '74 meant that you were pretty peculiar and out of touch. My son loves it too. There is nothing mote beautiful in the world - I need this album to keep me going at times. I am in Israel just now and I have the Beach Boys, Beatles, Moody Blues, Arlo Guthrie etc etc to keep me company in beautiful Tel Aviv. I owe my life to the Beach Boys. God Bless you, I love you Beach Boys so much... Come back to Dublin, Brian, we need you..
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaPretty decent song and record,despite the fact it wasn't sung by a beachboy!
    cool record!
  • Cmoney from Baltimore, Mdmy favorite beach boys song
  • Dave from Scottsdale, AzThe EP was entitled "Mount Vernon and Fairway" which was the street corner Mike Love lived on. The record company rejected it for the album which upset Brian. Carl insisted it be released as a 45 included with the album.
  • Reuben from Amsterdam, NetherlandsI think the boys do sound soulful on 'Holland', but their voices also sound as if they all have gotten a cold. Check out lovely songs like 'Trader' and 'Funky Pretty'.
  • Reuben from Amsterdam, NetherlandsThe album 'Holland' is brilliant, sensitive and very imaginative. The Beach Boys took a whole studio into an old Dutch barn in the small town of Baambrugge. The original LP also contains an EP with a tail told by I believe Brian Wilson, called 'Pied Piper'.
  • Tim from Detroit, MiThis song was used in the Marttin Scorsese movie - The Departed. More info on the soundtrack here: hhttp://thedeparted.net/the_departed_soundtrack.html
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaDoesn't sound like the Beach Boys i know.
  • Bob from Cold Spring, KyJimmy Buffet released a cover version of this song on his "Meet Me In Margaritaville" album.

    - b.lauer , cold spring, KY
  • Austin from Granville, OhThe guitar played by Carl Wilson on this track was said to have been inspired by Brian telling the band to give it a "Morse Code" sound.
  • Gary from Auckland, New ZealandIn New Zealand (and maybe Australia) 'California Saga'/'Sail On Sailor' was issued as a single in February 1973 and went to #15 in NZ and top 10 in Auckland -- both got a lot of airplay. Brian Wilson with the Wondermints played 'Sail On Sailor' in Auckland just before last Xmas and got a huge ovation.
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