Ah, the lure of the open sea. The rhythm of the waves, the hum of the breeze, the promise of the unknown just beyond the horizon, not to mention the time-honored appeal of sailors. Of course there’s a downside, and good songs have addressed that, too.

“Beyond the Sea”
— Bobby Darin

“Birds and Ships”
— Woody Guthrie

“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”
— Looking Glass

“Can’t Get It Out of My Head”
— Electric Light Orchestra

“Come Sail Away”
— Styx

“If I Had a Boat”
— Lyle Lovett

“Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
— The Weavers (- Also recorded as “Michael” by the Highwaymen)

“On a Slow Boat to China”
— Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby

“Proud Mary”
— Creedence Clearwater Revival (Covered by Ike & Tina Turner)

“Rock the Boat”
— Hues Corporation

“Sailing”
— Christopher Cross

“Sea Cruise”
— Frankie Ford

“Sea of Joy”
— Blind Faith

“Sloop John B”
— The Beach Boys

“Southern Cross”
— Crosby, Stills & Nash

“The Tide is High”
— Blondie

“The Wild Wild Sea”
— Sting

“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
— Gordon Lightfoot

“Too Many Fish in the Sea”
— The Marvelettes

“Undertow”
— R.E.M.

For more on music at sea, see page 18. Special thanks to Dennis “Captain Crunk” McDonough.