Album: Christopher Cross (1980)

Charted: 48 1

License This Song 

• 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
  
  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
  
  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
  
  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?
  
  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
  
  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
  
  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 Writer/s: Christopher C. Cross
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 36

• Boobie2shoes from TorontoThis might be the original
  https://youtu.be/9PnXcP8ZI7M
• Jenny from Nowhere, OkI came here looking for any information about the long intro that precedes this song. It sounds just like the song, but it's also a classical sounding melodic drone of symphonic strings. Far as I know it is NOT on the original album but I heard a scrap of it on TikTok recently, and remembered how I used to listen to that long intro when "Sailing" the song was originally popular. It is honestly some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. I can't find it on Spotify or in a google search either. If you know anything about it please message me over Instagram at ["at" symbol]cat_ladys_represent. Thanks!
• Dave E. from Thorndale, PaI too remember when Christopher Cross was interviewed on the Howard Stern Show. It was several years after “Sailing” and “Arthur” were released, but it was one of the best interviews Howard ever did. Howard said afterward that when he saw Christopher Cross in the lineup he thought, “Oh man, what am I going to do with this guy?” but then Cross came on and killed! Cross mentioned that he did not stay in touch with the neighbor who took him sailing and was so kind to him as a teenager, so Howard, always alert to a terrific story, tracked down the neighbor and invited Cross back for next day’s show. They surprised Cross by reuniting him with his neighbor via phone live on the air. The neighbor was aware that “Sailing” was Christopher Cross’ memories of their weekend trips, and Cross of course remembered his neighbor fondly, but hearing them speak about it for the first time years later was one of the most compelling interviews I’ve ever heard. I’ve searched for that Stern Show but never found it.
• Peter"Bowling"
  It's not far to never never land, No reason to pretend, And if the oil is right you can find the joy, of a perfect game, oh the boards they can do miracles, just you wait and see, believe me - Bowling, takes me away.....
• Susan from UsaJay, you are so right! I swore I heard him tell Howard Stern something about those sailing trips that I can’t find written anywhere now.
• JayThe song sailing has nothing to do with sailing. If you don’t believe me ask @itsmrcross on Twitter.
• Dan from Beebe Arkansas 30 Mi From LrHadn’t heard ‘ Sailing ‘ in years! Just did, and wow what a great song!! STILL! Liked the whole article.
• Rabbi Meyer from Central WisconsinSo many comments about memories generated by this song, so here's another one (well, two) - takes me back to late afternoons in the fall playing practice rounds with Jaro the Wise on golf team our senior year (HS) - while the song was a hit. And after winning their Grammys someone in the band said, "we went out and got drunk; we thought it was our duty." So Geo and I fulfilled that duty the night he'd won the HS band award - Wisconsin drinking age was 18 at that time.
• Jim from Plymouth UkI was 23 years old when this beautiful song was released, l had just moved down to Cornwall to windsurf and surf the big Atlantic waves. This song perfectly captured my love of the sea and the vibe of Cornwall and still has the same effect. It is a love song to the wind. I still surf and windsurf and when finances allow I intend to sail my yacht around the Pacific until I die, Sailing will go on the odyssey with me.
• Agnello Noel from MumbaiWho is Carter Burwell?
• Frank from Okc, OkThe guitar part was done by Eric Johnson, and drums were done by Tommy Taylor- Eric Johnson's drummer. I sat at a bar in South Carolina drinking with Eric, and I said to him, so your guitar style was stolen on this song. Eric had a moment of silence, and he said "lets just say that now we have similar styles." He was young at the time, so he was paid for his style with little recognition. I have heard that the song was written by a local man who cleaned boats after they were out at sea, and he said his thought, while cleaning, was that he would rather be out to sea, sailing. He said that he sold the rights to Christopher Cross. He hid the money from the sale of the song on his property and later died with no one ever finding it. This story was told to me by my brother who knew him.
• Joey from London UkWhen I heard this song it had just been released and I was visiting the US for the first time. I had picked up a car from the airport and was driving along and turned the radio on and this song started playing. I was immediately hooked and it defined the whole vibe of the US at the time. That was my first impression in America and I'll never forget it.
• Camille from Toronto, OhYou know how listening to some songs can take you away to a where you always heard it to be? Well, the lyrics to this particular song speak of sailing as a way of beautiful escape. You can hear it and picture it in your mind; and with this song's lyrics, vocals and music, you can feel it. There is a touch of melancholy. That can be interpreted as sailing is an escape but you have to eventually get back to reality. Or it could mean that the person is only sailing in his mind and not actually physically sailing. It's one of the loveliest songs ever.
• Rodney from Cleveland, TnI was 9 when this song came out. I remember how much I was impacted by it. Truly one of the best songs of the time and still is.
• Brandonh from Albuquerque, NmI love this song, but I don't know if its just me but I'm pretty sure Chris Brown sampled it in his song "I Can't Let You Go".
• Bec from Ft. Laud, FlI remember when I first heard this sound, I was leaving to start a new start , and on the plane this is what changed my world. Thanks Chris
• Matt from Santa Cruz, CaI can still remember hearing this song as a little kid in the morning on my mom's clock radio after a thunderstom that apparently scared me out of my bed in the middle of the night. I just remember the extraordinarily peaceful and protected feeling I had when I heard Sailing, and this song always brings back those great feelings 20+ years later.
• En from Chicago, IlThe name of the friend he would go sailing with is Al Glascock.
• Jesus from Heaven, FlThis song is about what the Soul feels, once it has arrived at the KINGDOM OF GOD, that resides WITHIN.
  
  Enlightenment, Nirvana, Cosmic Consciousness, Oneness, etc.
  
  "Its not far down to Paradise, atleast is not for me" "If the wind is right you can sail away, and find tranquility" "Ohh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see" "Believe Me"
• Chip from Stratford, CtWow frank, that's horrible. I have a female friend Lea that is pretty much your situation. We fooled around when we were younger. We both ended up marrying other people. I really miss her. Chip
• Brian from Cincinnati, OhOne word can describe this song,beautiful
• Billy from West Unity, OhIt's a pity that every song has to be slammed with "it's about drugs". God where do these people come from. I suppose Think of Laura refers to some kind of gross sexual encounter. George, you have waaaaaaaaaay too much time on your hands. This is the first and only time I've ever heard that Sailing had anything to do with smoking pot.
• Peter from Seoul, --This song just makes you feel at peace, especially the piano solos. Cross also sounds the same as he did when the song first came out, and that's great!
• Jane from Austin, Tx'Nsync did a nice cover of this song. and Mr. Cross even plays on it.
• Frank from Birmingham, AlI love this song. It reminds me of my first girlfriend. She was the first girl I dated after I got my drivers license. We both loved this song, I had it on 8 track. She and I only dated through the summer, we remained friends after we started dating other people. She married a friend of mine, they were married 26 years. She was killed in a automobile accident last month. I will always think of her when I hear this song. She was a wonderful person and will be missed.
• Lalah from Wasilla, AkGeorge, leave the weed behind and take a ride on a sailboat. If you had ever been sailing you'd know the feeling of a breeze moving your boat across the water. This song definitely conveys a sunny day on a lake with no motors in your ears or exhaust stinking up the air. Lake Travis sounds about right.
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdThis ranked #1 on VH1's Soft-sational Rock Songs
• David from South Sf, CaBeautiful song, both words and music. I'm impressed that he not only sang it so well but that he composed it too.
• Melissa from Windsor, CanadaRegardless of what slang terms are used for smoking marijuana, this song is not about that. I think the nature of the song makes that clear.
• George from Somewhere, GaThis song is actually about smoking pot. Sailing is a euphemism or slang for smoking marijuana. When he says "wind" it is meaning smoke. And while he actually sings it as "canvas" so that it would not be so obvious and so it would receive radio play, insert the word "cannabis". Listen to all the words!!!
• Carlos from Brooklyn, NyI interpret this song as being in a state of nirvana or "heaven".
• Pete from Nowra, Australiathis is a fantastic song, one of those songs when you hear it first up , you know it's gonna be a hit....heard he didn't sound to good live,can anyone confirm????
• Rob Mcmahon from Woodbury, NjWhile on the Howard Stern show years back, he commented on how he would go with this friend, who was an older guy.
  His Dad never spent any time with him and this song was sorta inspired by that.
• Chris from Denver, CoI used to live in Austin and heard the same thing, he wrote it about either Lake Travis or Canyon Lake. Chris, Littleton, CO
• Dimitri from Oklahoma, KsSailing is really tops - I love it lots
• Don from San Antonio, TxPeople around Austin say it's about lake Travis.

More Songfacts:

One DanceDrake

Drake's "One Dance" was the first ever song to rack up one billion streams on Spotify.

Come On EileenDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen" is based on a real girl called Eileen that the band's Kevin Rowland had a relationship with in his early teenage years.

Shine On You Crazy DiamondPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is about their founding member Syd Barrett, who became an acid casualty. Notice the S-Y-D in the title.

Zoot Suit RiotCherry Poppin' Daddies

"Zoot Suit Riot" isn't just a Cherry Poppin' Daddies song - the Zoot Suit Riots were real riots in Los Angeles that took place in 1943 and inspired the song's lyrics.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)John Lennon

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is based on billboards John Lennon and Yoko Ono posted two years earlier declaring "War Is Over! If You Want It."

Rhythm Of My HeartRod Stewart

"Rhythm Of My Heart" by Rod Stewart is about a soldier at war - his heart is beating like a drum because he's in battle.

Editor's Picks

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.