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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Sail Away
| name = Sail Away
⚫
| cover =
| Cover = <!-- just the file name -->
| Border =
| alt =
| Alt =
| type = single
| Caption =
| artist = [[Randy Newman]]
| Artist = [[Randy Newman]]
| album = [[Sail Away (Randy Newman album)|Sail Away]]
| released = {{Start date|1972}}
| Album = [[Sail Away (Randy Newman album)|Sail Away]]
| A-side =
| format =
| B-side =
| recorded =
| Released = {{Start date|1972}}
| studio =
| genre = [[Orchestral pop]]<ref name= "Dimery 2010">{{cite book |first1=Robert |last1=Dimery |first2=Michael |last2=Lydon |date=23 March 2010 |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |edition=Revised and Updated |publisher=Universe |isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}</ref>
⚫
| Format =
| Recorded =
| length =
| Genre =
| label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
⚫
| writer = Randy Newman
| Length = <!-- {{Duration|m=MM|s=SS}} -->
| producer =
| Label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
| prev_title =
⚫
| Writer = Randy Newman
| Producer =
| prev_year =
| Certification =
| next_title =
| Chronology =
| next_year =
| Last single =
| This single =
| Next single =
| Misc =
}}
}}


"'''Sail Away'''" is a song by [[Randy Newman]], the title track of his [[Sail Away (Randy Newman album)|1972 album]].
"'''Sail Away'''" is a song by [[Randy Newman]], the title track to his [[Sail Away (Randy Newman album)|1972 album]]. In a 1972 review in ''Rolling Stone'', Stephen Holden describes "Sail Away" as presenting "the American dream of a promised land as it might have been presented to black Africa in slave running days."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Holder |first1=Stephen |title=Sail Away |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/sail-away-2-204364/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

==Lyrics and interpretation==
"Sail Away" takes the form of a "come on" or a "pitch" from an [[United States of America|American]] [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trader]] to potential [[Slavery in Colonial America|slaves]]. The slaver attempts to convince his listeners to climb aboard his ship and "sail away" with him to America (specifically [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]), which he portrays as a land of happiness and plenty.

The lyrics contain several subtle references to the extreme [[ideological]] [[dichotomy]] going on in America at the time of the slave trade. For example, the slaver sings "In America, every man is free," emphasizing the American ideal of liberty. However, after a [[caesura]] he quickly concludes that sentence with "to take care of his home and his family," implying that every man in fact isn't "free" in every sense of the word.


==Music==
==Music==
The song is written in the key of [[F major]], and performed in that key on the album. The original album recording features an [[ostinato]] piano part, played by Newman (who also sings the lyrics), accompanied by a full orchestra (strings, winds and brass) for harmonic and melodic fills. It features a set of relatively simple (for Newman) chord changes in the blues-country-rock-gospel progression that Newman is so well known for.
The original album recording features an [[ostinato]] piano part, played by Newman (who also sings the lyrics), accompanied by a full orchestra (strings, winds and brass) for harmonic and melodic fills. It features a set of relatively simple (for Newman) chord changes in the blues-country-rock-gospel progression that Newman is so well known for.


==Significance==
==Significance==
⚫
"Sail Away" has been widely praised by critics and Newman fans as one of his finest works. It is often cited among the best tracks on one of his best albums. Like many Newman songs, the relative simplicity and "hominess" of the music contrast powerfully with the emotional fortitude of the lyrics.


⚫
"Sail Away" has been widely praised by critics and Newman fans as one of his finest works. It is often cited among the best tracks on one of his best albums. Like many Newman songs, the relative simplicity and "hominess" of the music contrast powerfully with the emotional fortitude of the lyrics. [[Greil Marcus]] wrote in his 1975 book ''[[Mystery Train (book)|Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music]]'' that the song is "like a vision of heaven superimposed on hell."<ref>{{cite book|title=Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music|first=Greil|last=Marcus|year=1975|publisher=E.P. Dutton & Co.|isbn=0142181587}}</ref>
⚫
"Sail Away" has been covered by many artists in live performances, notably, [[Ray Charles]], [[Sonny Terry]] and [[Brownie McGhee]], [[Etta James]], [[Frankie Miller]], [[Dave Van Ronk]], and [[Dave Matthews Band|Dave Matthews]].


⚫
"Sail Away" has been covered by many artists in live performances, notably, [[Ray Charles]], [[Sonny Terry]] and [[Brownie McGhee]], [[Etta James]], [[Frankie Miller]], [[Roseanna Vitro]], [[Bobby Doyle (jazz vocalist)|Bobby Doyle]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Ann Wilson]], [[Dave Van Ronk]], [[Harry Nilsson]], and [[Dave Matthews Band|Dave Matthews]]. On her first solo album, [[Gladys Knight]] covered it as part of a medley with [[Allen Toussaint]]'s song "[[Freedom for the Stallion]]", which shares themes of the [[History of slavery|slave trade]].
[[Harry Nilsson]] covered the song on ''That's The Way It Is''.


[[Bobby Darin]] covered the song on his last album before he died in 1972 - [[Motown]]'s ''Bobby Darin''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA31&dq=%22Newman's+Sail+Away%22+%22bobby+darin%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OBdQVe2GD8SZyASKlYGwDQ&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Newman's%20Sail%20Away%22%20%22bobby%20darin%22&f=false "Billboard Album reviews"]. ''Billboard''. August 19, 1972. Retrieved May 10, 2015.</ref>
[[Bobby Darin]] covered the song on his last album before he died in 1973, [[Motown]]'s ''Bobby Darin''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eCgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Newman%27s+Sail+Away%22+%22bobby+darin%22&pg=RA1-PA31 "Billboard Album reviews"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. August 19, 1972. Retrieved May 10, 2015.</ref> Newman later said, "Bobby Darin could sing, but he did 'Sail Away,' and, well... I don't think he understood it. He did it like was a happy song about coming to America."<ref>{{cite news| work= [[Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | title=Randy Newman's 20 essential songs | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/randy-newman-20-essential-songs/sail-away-1972/|date=September 18, 2015}}</ref>


Upon its release as a single, ''[[Record World]]'' said that the song "is simply superb."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=July 8, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-30|title=Single Picks|page=8|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-07-08.pdf}}</ref>
[[Bobby Doyle (jazz vocalist)|Bobby Doyle]] included a version on his 1973 album ''Nine Songs''.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Bobby-Doyle-Nine-Songs/release/2714950 "Bobby Doyle - Nine Songs"]. Discogs. Retrieved May 10, 2015.</ref>


⚫
In 2011 it was listed at number 268 on [[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|''Rolling Stone'''s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url =https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/randy-newman-sail-away-2-48432/| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|accessdate = July 17, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>
[[Linda Ronstadt]] covered the song for her 1973 album ''[[Don't Cry Now]]''.

Jazz singer [[Roseanna Vitro]] recorded a version for her 2011 album ''[[The Music of Randy Newman]]''.

⚫
It is listed at #264 on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#500Songs| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|accessdate = May 2, 2010|work= Rock List Music}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|randy-newman|sail-away}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->



{{Randy Newman}}
{{Randy Newman}}
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[[Category:Randy Newman songs]]
[[Category:Randy Newman songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Randy Newman]]
[[Category:Songs written by Randy Newman]]
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[[Category:Soft rock songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Russ Titelman]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Russ Titelman]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Lenny Waronker]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Lenny Waronker]]
[[Category:Reprise Records singles]]
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[[Category:Bobby Darin songs]]
[[Category:Songs about American slavery]]

Latest revision as of 08:44, 11 November 2024

"Sail Away"
Single by Randy Newman
from the album Sail Away
Released1972 (1972)
GenreOrchestral pop[1]
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Randy Newman

"Sail Away" is a song by Randy Newman, the title track to his 1972 album. In a 1972 review in Rolling Stone, Stephen Holden describes "Sail Away" as presenting "the American dream of a promised land as it might have been presented to black Africa in slave running days."[2]

Music

[edit]

The original album recording features an ostinato piano part, played by Newman (who also sings the lyrics), accompanied by a full orchestra (strings, winds and brass) for harmonic and melodic fills. It features a set of relatively simple (for Newman) chord changes in the blues-country-rock-gospel progression that Newman is so well known for.

Significance

[edit]

"Sail Away" has been widely praised by critics and Newman fans as one of his finest works. It is often cited among the best tracks on one of his best albums. Like many Newman songs, the relative simplicity and "hominess" of the music contrast powerfully with the emotional fortitude of the lyrics. Greil Marcus wrote in his 1975 book Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music that the song is "like a vision of heaven superimposed on hell."[3]

"Sail Away" has been covered by many artists in live performances, notably, Ray Charles, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Etta James, Frankie Miller, Roseanna Vitro, Bobby Doyle, Linda Ronstadt, Ann Wilson, Dave Van Ronk, Harry Nilsson, and Dave Matthews. On her first solo album, Gladys Knight covered it as part of a medley with Allen Toussaint's song "Freedom for the Stallion", which shares themes of the slave trade.

Bobby Darin covered the song on his last album before he died in 1973, Motown's Bobby Darin.[4] Newman later said, "Bobby Darin could sing, but he did 'Sail Away,' and, well... I don't think he understood it. He did it like was a happy song about coming to America."[5]

Upon its release as a single, Record World said that the song "is simply superb."[6]

In 2011 it was listed at number 268 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (Revised and Updated ed.). Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  2. ^ Holder, Stephen. "Sail Away". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Marcus, Greil (1975). Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music. E.P. Dutton & Co. ISBN 0142181587.
  4. ^ "Billboard Album reviews". Billboard. August 19, 1972. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Randy Newman's 20 essential songs". The Telegraph. September 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. July 8, 1972. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  7. ^ "The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
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