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Length: 3:13
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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
Why was I thinking this is Steely Dan?
Hey, not a bad guess! I didn't know this was the Beach Boys until I looked at this page, and I've heard this song for decades. It's definitely a different sound for them.
Oh what a song. So Funky Pretty. Recorded on a barge studio in Amsterdam. Can almost smell the smoke coming from the port holes. And that simple drum lope. I've played my own drums along with this song a thousand times. Take a look at the cover of the album. Turned the Beach Boys completely upside down..... So simple. So much groove.
Thanks. I don't recall noticing that detail, even tho I owned the album.
Great tune.
Such a great, underheard album.
Yes! GREAT TUNE!!
Wilson for City Commissioner!
(sorry...caught up in the pre-mid-term...)
And it was also one of their slowest-selling, their image being tied to the sun-and-surf songs of the mid-60s. Frankly, they were just no longer fashionable. I was thinking of that when I went to see one of their shows in support of this album. They were playing to a half-full house at a second-tier university - but man what a show. Those guys were great musicians.
I could have walked a couple of blocks to see them at Boston College around the time of this album but didn't. Had I known...
It would have to have a sudden jazzy increase in tempo at a break in the middle, followed by 30 seconds of an instrumental horn section. That would be Chicago for sure.
I rated this a '4' initially. Not sure why — it brings up some happy childhood memories, and I really had no idea it was The Beach Boys until I'd heard it on RP! Moved up to a more respectable 7.
Keep going...
Ah, forgot that you can't embed youtubes in song comments. Here you go.
Ironically, one of The Beach Boys best songs and it sounds the least like them.
You're right! I hadn't thought about that way. But I think that's one mark of a good singer or a band, if they don't always have to sound exactly the same.
I've been hearing this song on RP for a while now and just realized it's the Beach Boys. Couldn't believe it's the same surf band I listened to in the '60s. Still learning something new every day.
Same! I just had a shocked moment myself!
And it was also one of their slowest-selling, their image being tied to the sun-and-surf songs of the mid-60s. Frankly, they were just no longer fashionable. I was thinking of that when I went to see one of their shows in support of this album. They were playing to a half-full house at a second-tier university - but man what a show. Those guys were great musicians.
Similar experience, though the audience was full of drunk frat and sorority brothers and sisters yelling out for surf music. It was sad all the way around.
I had the very good fortune of hearing it performed live during Brian Wilson's tour a few years ago sung by the original lead vocalist Blondie Chaplin who was touring with him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blondie_Chaplin
Funny... this is my least liked Beach Boys song.
flyboy50 wrote:
Right you are Poose!
There's many more songs they did that aren't "Surf" music .
One just needs to listen to this album and "Surf's Up" to hear some real gems.
Hey. I agreed with ThePoose!
See people... all you need to do is give Poose a chance!
One of the songs I was happy to learn about when I got the BB Box Set way back when....a lot of great stuff NOT related to surfing and cars....this one's an 8 and getting close to a 9....Long Live RP!!
You need to get out more.
i didn't know either. maybe i need to get out more too! :J i guess i just wrote off the BB after some of Love's, er, regrettable comments. having writ that, tho, this isn't bad.
Hilarious. I'm old-school classic rock guy, but i never knew this was Beach Boys either. I always thought it was some schmaltzy 70's band like The Little River Band or something
You need to get out more.
I was very unimpressed with someone who couldn't control himself and show some respect.
And it was also one of their slowest-selling, their image being tied to the sun-and-surf songs of the mid-60s. Frankly, they were just no longer fashionable. I was thinking of that when I went to see one of their shows in support of this album. They were playing to a half-full house at a second-tier university - but man what a show. Those guys were great musicians.
Me either. Always fond of this tune, but not all Beach Boys though.
Some great songs on that album, Big Sur Saga and The Trader in-particular.
Gimme 409 and Shut Down!
These two songs are not even in the same league. Sail On is exponentially better than The Wreck.
I'm not sure if one song could be "exponentially" better than another (or "exponentially" anything really), but whatever.
These two songs are not even in the same league. Sail On is exponentially better than The Wreck.
Never said they were; just liked the segue.
if robert palmer was next, i'd love that. sailin shoes.
"Ceylon, Ceylon, sailor."
that's funny
These two songs are not even in the same league. Sail On is exponentially better than The Wreck.
agreed!
These two songs are not even in the same league. Sail On is exponentially better than The Wreck.
You'll walk the plank for that cheesy joke! ; )
I deserve it.
"Ceylon, Ceylon, sailor."
You'll walk the plank for that cheesy joke! ; )
Before I heard this I never new Sri Lanka had a navy.
"Ceylon, Ceylon, sailor."
Well put. Hands down the best Beach Boys tune for me. . . its funny how certain songs can hit the spot so perfectly and then keep hitting it decade after decade after decade (counts on fingers) after decade.
Hilarious. I'm old-school classic rock guy, but i never knew this was Beach Boys either. I always thought it was some schmaltzy 70's band like The Little River Band or something
flyboy50 wrote:
ajlept wrote:
Who knew? I thought this was Traffic.
Please to listen to the whole Pet Sounds album.
Forget the lead, how can you not know this is the Beach Boys listening to the harmonies??
Me either...wow!
Me either! Thought it was Steely Dan.
Me either...wow!
The album also came with a small 45 sized EP called "Mount Vernon and Fairway"
which is a curious piece of work. Never was quite sure what to make of that...
"Holland" is a great album.
I think this song is one of the weakest one on it.
"Funky Pretty" and "California" are far superior songs.
"Mt. Vernon and Fairway" is way out there though. (#lol)
Ahhhh, no — opposite for me — gimme the surfing songs please (Good Vibrations). I always thought this song was performed by Chicago (whom I dislike...).
This song could possibly be compared to Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here", on which the Beach Boys sing background vocals.
Love both of those songs.
https://playitandbedamned.blogspot.com/2008/01/unsung-hero-blondie-chaplin.html
Well, it's not print per se, but this Wiki account pretty much substantiates what is generally acknowledged, i.e., Blondie's vocal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sail_On,_Sailor
I saw one of Rick Danko's many post-Band bands long ago. Chaplin played guitar, and sang their rendition of "Sail On Sailor." Sure sounded like the same voice as that on the Beach Boys' recording. Guess that's not print either. Sigh.