Sail Away Sweet Sister

Album: The Game (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Subtitled "To The Sister I Never Had," this song finds a young lady coming of age and leaving the nest. It's not clear if the song is written from the perspective of a lover or a relative.
  • Queen guitarist Brian May wrote this, and though he usually played piano on his own songs, this time he asked Freddie Mercury do record it because of his perfect timing and rhythm sense. Mercury sings the middle eight of the song as well, while Brian sings the verses and choruses. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sebas - Tokyo, Japan

Comments: 6

  • Aline from Brasilia, --Yeah Jamie, and also, Axl used to sing the chorus of Grand Funk Railroad's "Bad Time", following "Sail Away Sweet Sister" during the Use Your Illusion Tour.
  • Nikki from Perth, AustraliaThe full title of this song is "Sail Away Sweet Sister (To The Sister I Never Had)" So yeah, it's Brian writing a song... to the sister he never had. And it's so sweet =)
  • Anna from Ann Arbor, MiThis song always makes my heart say, "Awwww..."
    It's so sweet,
    Brian seems like such a sweetheart.
  • Stefano from Rome, ItalyPay attention to the acoustic guitar part (an Ovation?): it's great!
  • Freddie from Orlando, FlBrian likes to write those kind of tragic love songs. very often if you pay attention. Bless his sad little heart.
  • Jamie from CambridgeIncidentally, this song inspired Guns n' Roses' song "Sweet Child of Mine", which was, in turn, a song to Axle's then-fiance (daughter of an Everly Brother).
    Sometimes, in concert, Axle would begin Sweet Child of Mine by singing a few lines of Sail Away Sweet Sister acapella.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.