Sailing – Christopher Cross (1980)

“Sailing” is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Christopher Cross. Released in June 1980 as a single from his 1979 debut album “Christopher Cross”, it became an instant success in the United States, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 30, 1980 where it stayed for one week. In Canada, it also peaked #1 in the Canadian Top Singles and Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.

The song received Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year, and helped Cross win the Best New Artist award. VH1 named “Sailing” the most “softsational soft rock” song of all time.

Recorded in mid-1979, it utilized the 3M Digital Recording System, making it one of the first digitally recorded songs to chart. In his Grammy acceptance speech, Cross acknowledged “Sailing” as his favorite song on the album and that originally it was not meant to be a single.

The song is about the beauty and freedom of sailing as Christopher Cross recollects his summer years as a teenager which provided him with a kind of freedom that takes him away from the troubles of life. The song’s lyrics reflect this and are beautifully complemented by the musical arrangement.

Christopher Cross is from San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Verse 1
Well, it’s not far down to paradise
At least it’s not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Verse 2
It’s not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Chorus
Sailing
Takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
Soon I will be free

Verse 3
Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I’m sailing

All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won’t you believe me?

Chorus
Sailing
Takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Instrumental Bridge

Verse 4
Well, it’s not far back to sanity
At least it’s not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Really, believe me

Chorus
Sailing
Takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

God-fearing child of the 70s and 80s, retro music lover, a boring dad who loves to cook, engineer who loves to code, wannabe apologist, listens to anything smooth jazz.