"Sailing, Sailing" is a song written in 1880 by Godfrey Marks, a

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of British organist and composer

James Frederick Swift James Frederick Swift (28 December 1847, Manchester – 9 January 1931, Wallasey) was an English organist and composer. He mostly worked for religious establishments such as St Andrew's Church in Liverpool for 10 years, but he also composed around ...

(1847–1931). It is also known as "Sailing" or "Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main" (the first line of its chorus). The song's chorus is widely known and appears in many children's songbooks. The preceding verses are little known. It appears in

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

's 1961

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short ''

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''. The song also appears on Disney's "Sing Along Songs" Volume 6 - 'Under The Sea' which also features the Sailor's Hornpipe during which Ludwig Von Drake is setting off on a cruise to find the Little Mermaid. More recently it appeared in series 3 of the 2015 TV show Thunderbirds Are Go. It is based on “Oh Better Far To Live and Die” from

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Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen com ...

Lyrics

:''Verse 1'' :Y'heave ho! my lads, the wind blows free, :A pleasant gale is on our lee, :And soon across the ocean clear :Our gallant barque shall bravely steer; :But ere we part from

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

's shore tonight, :A song we'll sing for home and beauty bright. ::Then here's to the

sailor A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. While the term ''sailor'' ...

, and here's to the hearts so true, ::Who will think of him upon the waters blue! :
:''Chorus'' :Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main; :For many a stormy wind shall blow, ere Jack comes home again. :Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main; :For many a stormy wind shall blow ere Jack comes home again! :
:''Verse 2'' :The sailor's life is bold and free, :His home is on the rolling sea; :And never heart more true or brave, :Than his who launches on the wave; :Afar he speeds in distant climes to roam, :With jocund song he rides the sparkling foam. ::Then here's to the sailor, and here's to the hearts so true, ::Who will think of him upon the waters blue! :''(Repeat Chorus)'' :
:''Verse 3'' :The tide is flowing with the gale, :Y'heave ho, my lads! set ev'ry sail; :The harbor bar we soon shall clear; :Farewell once more to home so dear; :For when the tempest rages loud and long, :That home shall be our guiding star and song. ::Then here's to the sailor, and here's to the hearts so true, ::Who will think of him upon the waters blue! :''(Repeat Chorus)'' Accessed through th
Internet Archive

References

1880 songs English children's songs Songs about oceans and seas Songs about sailors Traditional children's songs {{song-stub