13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships

Reading Time: 15 min read

13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships features music courtesy of AWOLNATION, Clairo, Hues Corporation, Kodak Black, and The O’Jays.

“Out among the stars I sail / Way beyond the moon / In my silver ship I sail / A dream that ended too soon.” Those classic lyrics hail from 🎙️ Randy Newman, by the way. The song: 🎵 “I Will Go Sailing No More” from the OG Disney/Pixar classic, 🎦 Toy Story. The keyword in the excerpted lyrics is SHIP 🚢, which this playlist, 🎧 13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships is about… loosely… very loosely. Odd that I select a Buzz Lightyear song to introduce a list which focuses on ships on the water as opposed to rocket ships and such. Oh, well. Regardless, hopefully this nonsensical intro piqued your interest and garnered your attention. 🎧 13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships features music courtesy of 🎙 AWOLNATION, 🎙 Clairo, 🎙 Hues Corporation, 🎙 Kodak Black, and 🎙 The O’Jays among others. There are oldies! Alternative! Soul! Rap! And, surprisingly, gospel! So, without further ado, get your SHIP 🚢 together and join us on this 13-song musical cruise… of sorts!

1. Lakeside, “Fantastic Voyage”

💿 Fantastic Voyage • 🏷 Unidisc Music Inc. • 🗓 1980

“Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage.” Why of course we will, 🎙 Lakeside – WOO! The R&B/funk band is renowned for the 1980 classic, 🎵 “Fantastic Voyage”, a moderate hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 55. The funked-up classic fared better on the R&B charts. Chart numbers aside, I think any and everyone who hears “Fantastic Voyage” today respects it as a surefire classic. One of the biggest reasons why “Fantastic Voyage” is an awesome record is the production. The sound palette is crazy – in the best way possible, of course. “Fantastic Voyage” is a clear bridge from the 70s to the growing electronic vibes of the 80s. Still, the groove, riffs, and commanding vocals preserve the sanctity of the soul music that precedes.

The lyrics are incredibly fun, amplifying the overall vibe. Truly, “Fantastic Voyage” sounds like one big-time party:

“Just slide, glide, slippity-slide

Just forget about your troubles and your 9 to 5

And just sail on (That’s what you do), just sail on

Now this groove’s so funky, hey, what do you think?

What is it called? Let’s call it Lakeside stank.”

“Lakeside stank,” huh? I’m in! Honestly, there’s no way you can be bummed listening to “the directors of this groove ship.” Who doesn’t want to “Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage?” Even 40+ years later, doesn’t “The Land of Funk” sound like an inviting place? WOO!

Appears in 🔻:

2. Florence + The Machine, “Ship to Wreck”

💿 How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful • 🏷 Island • 📅 2015

“And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I said? / I can’t help but pull the earth around me to make my bed / …Did I build a ship to wreck?” It’s clear on the energetic 🎵 “Ship to Wreck,” a highlight from the 2015 🎙 Florence Welch + The Machine album, 💿 How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful that 🎙 Florence Welch has seen her relationships go to hell. Welch is no stranger to tackling matters of the heart, and she does so masterfully on “Ship to Wreck.” “To wreck, to wreck, to wreck / Did I build this ship to wreck?” Welch simply wants to know exactly what she did to cause the love – the relationship – to go south. She uses poetic, metaphorical lyrics related to the ocean to intensify the tenuous nature of the relationship. In the first verse, she sings, “Dredging up great white sharks, swimming in the bed / And here comes a killer whale, to sing me to sleep / Thrashing the covers off, has me by its teeth.” In the second, a key metaphorical moment occurs as Welch sings, “The chair is an island, darling, you can’t touch the floor.” “Ship to Wreck” is one of the best songs from her catalog, period.

Appears in 🔻:

3. Kodak Black, “Sink My Ship”

💿 Back For Everything • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2022

“Fo’ red bitches fuckin’ on me ‘cause I’m lit / Fo’ red bitches jumpin’ on me like I’m crip,” 🎙 Kodak Black raps in the chorus of 🎵 “Sink My Ship”, continuing, “Leakin’ on me, shawty got that sauce, she got that drip / Niggas hatin’ on me, tryna sink a nigga ship.” Woo! It’s no secret that Black is controversial, with a history of issues. Arguably, “Sink My Ship” is controversial, given the conversation he has with his young song in the intro and during an interlude late in the track (“And what we is? / We gangsters”). Gangsters, huh? Definitely a different sort of parenting… Regardless, this eighth track from his 2022 album, 💿 Back For Everything, is a banger. Cool, energetic production by 🎛 Scott Storch and Avedon helps to fuel the Floridian’s fire 🔥 – and flow, of course!

Essentially, in Kodak Black’s mind, these folks – N’s from his perspective – are hating on him, trying to kill his shine. At one point, in the first verse, he asserts, “These niggas hate the way that I’m progressin’ / They hate to see me be the person that I’m destined.” Perhaps that’s true, however, when you have built a certain reputation, as the rapper has, it’s incredibly hard to change perceptions. Furthermore, the self-admitted gangster, earlier in the same verse spits, “Streets done taught me well, I’m droppin’ knowledge on my lil’ son / If a nigga hit you, we don’t hit back, we gon’ kill something.” Charming. Verse two also makes it a bit far-fetched to believe the rapper has progressed too much: “It’s like nothin’ don’t excite me no more / All I think about is sniping, oh Lord / All I think about is killing people / All I think about is being evil.” Woo! The next steps for Kodak Black, based on these troubling thoughts and rhymes is, how do you ensure the ship doesn’t sink, and you are showing true progression? The other side of this is, how much of 🎵 “Sink My Ship” is to make a kick ass rap banger and how much is truly 💯?

Appears in 🔻:

Kodak Black, Sink My Ship: Rap BNGRZ 🔥 30 (2023)

4. Weyes Blood, “Titanic Rising”

💿 Titanic Rising • 🏷 Sub Pop • 📅 2019

🎙 Weyes Blood (Natalie Laura Mering) had a critically acclaimed album on her hands with 💿 Titanic Rising, released in 2019. What’s interesting about Titanic Rising is that 🎵 “Titanic Rising,” the fifth track, is incredibly brief (an interlude essentially). Obviously, the Titanic is a ship, hence why “Titanic Rising” fits the parameters of 🎧 13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships. In addition to its brevity, “Titanic Rising” happens to be instrumental. It is truly gorgeous and expressive. It ticks boxes when it comes to exemplifying an effective tone poem. Contextually on the album, “Titanic Rising” is situated between 🎵 “Something to Believe in” and 🎵 “Movies”.

Appears in 🔻:

5. serpentwithfeet, “Sailor’s Superstition”

💿 DEACON • 🏷 Secretly Canadian • 🗓 2021

🎵 “Sailor’s Superstition” gives 💿 DEACON, the sophomore album by 🎙 serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise), a change of pace. A notable part of the contrast is who sits in the producer’s chair: the talented 🎛 Take A Daytrip. “Sailor’s Superstition” embraces modern R&B with hip-hop influence. Regardless of the shift in sound contextually, serpentwithfeet nails it, unsurprisingly. The quick, rhythmic nature of the lyrics stands out. Wise sings with ease. The harmonized vocals and vocal layers shine. Adding to the picturesque nature of “Sailor’s Superstition” is the simple yet irresistible chorus, which, fittingly, references the ship: “Don’t whistle on the ship / We don’t wanna rouse the wind.”

Appears in 🔻:

Ship🚢: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 53 (2023)

6. Clairo, “Sinking”

💿 Immunity • 🏷 FADER • 📅 2019

“Every night / Think of things I can’t do or haven’t done / And does it make me weak?” That sounds incredible depressing, 🎙 Clairo (Claire Cottrill). Similarly, in the second verse of 🎵 “Sinking,” the penultimate track from her 2019 debut album, 💿 Immunity, she sings, “Outside, it’s getting colder / Why does it feel like I’m older than I asked to be?” A big take away from “Sinking,” which sounds like a sinking ship, is that it’s painful. If you read the lyrics without context, it makes you believe Cottrill is singing about the pains of love. WRONG! As Pitchfork brilliantly describes it:

“‘Sinking’ is about wanting to be fully capable in intimate scenarios, an insecurity that was very much on Cottrill’s mind during the album’s writing sessions, when her arthritis flares were so excruciating that she had trouble making it to the studio…”

So, “Sinking” actually references Clairo’s personal struggles with rheumatoid arthritis – “If you really pay attention to what’s going on, you can tell it’s about something dealing with pain… That’s how arthritis works…” Perhaps this sinking isn’t associated with a boat, ship, or yacht, but, it’s sinking, nonetheless.

7. Hues Corporation, “Rock the Boat”

💿 Freedom for the Stallion • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1973

“So, I’d like to know where you got the notion / Said I’d like to know where you got the notion / To…” QUESTION: Can you fill in the next line? If you responded with 🎵 “Rock the Boat” you were totally correct. “Rock the Boat” marked the biggest hit by trio 🎙 Hues Corporation comprised originally of 🎙 Hubert Ann Kelley, 🎙 Fleming Williams, and 🎙 Bernard “St. Clair Lee” Henderson. Because this gold certified, no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 is the best known single by the band it is assumed they are a one-hit wonder. WRONG! Hues Corporation would strike gold again with 🎵 “Rockin’ Soul” which peaked at no. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, eliminating the trio from the one-hit wonder-dom. But, let’s stay focused on the infectious “Rock the Boat,” one of the truly infectious, beloved disco/soul gems of the 1970s. Notably, it appears on the collective’s 💿 Freedom for the Stallion.

Bitmoji Image The chorus is the biggest selling point, period. Even 50 years after its release, many folks can sing this infectious gem: “Rock the boat / Don’t tip the boat over / Rock the boat / Don’t rock the boat, baby / Rock the boat.” Yeah, you get the idea. Besides the ear catching chorus, the production and sound of the record is a vibe in its own right. Groovy from the onset featuring colorful orchestration (horns and strings), the minute the DJ turns this one on, you’re ready to head to the dance floor – the discotheque calls your name! Focusing on the lyrics beyond the chorus, the verses yield an enjoyable, memorable listening experience as well (“Ever since our voyage of love began / Your touch has thrilled me / Like the rush of the wind”). The vocals are elite, the melodies tuneful, and there’s a sense of pleasantry. The pre-chorus… or bridge (of sorts) is one of the distinct parts of this song, separating itself from the other sections (“Our love is like a ship on the ocean…”). It serves as a fabulous preface to that once in a lifetime chorus. All told, 🎵 “Rock the Boat” speaks for itself without extensive analysis or dissection. It’s a bop for all-time, baby!

Appears in 🔻:

Hues Corporation, Rock the Boat: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 120 (2023)

8. Juice WRLD, “Titanic”

💿 Legends Never Die • 🏷 Grade A Productions / Interscope • 📅 2020

“Just got a new house, gotta hide the skeletons in the closet / And keep ‘em there, really tryna forget about ‘em.” That’s relatable. Maybe not the new house part so much, but, trying to hide faults, flaws, and things you’re not proud of as opposed to, say, facing them head on. Among the best moments from 💿 Legends Never Die, the posthumous studio album by 🎙 Juice WRLD is the third track, 🎵 “Titanic.” It all starts with a super catchy chorus that highlights the legendary Luxury cruiser that sunk: “Abandon all ships, it’s about to go down / No Titanic (Titanic) / There’s a lot going on in my head right now / But I manage.” Of course, this isn’t about the ship or the 🏆 Academy Award winning film. Juice WRLD uses this as an opportunity to reflect on himself, specifically his issues and drug use. “Set sail in the codeine bottle, I’ma drown in it, drown in it / Shit fills me up, but whatever goes up goes down in it, down in it.” Even though the rapper is deceased, you still wish he could’ve conquered his demons.

Appears in 🔻:

Titanic: 5ive Songs No. 10 (2020)

9. AWOLNATION, “Sail”

💿 Megalithic Symphony • 🏷 Red Bull • 🗓 2011

“This is how I show my love / I made it in my mind because / I blame it on my ADD, baby.” WOO! One of the truly great, one-hit wonders arrives courtesy of 🎙 Aaron Bruno, the lead vocalist/songwriter of 🎙 AWOLNATION. 🎵 “Sail”, the crème de la crème of the band’s 2011, platinum album, 💿 Megalithic Symphony, slowly became a BIG DEAL in the 2010s. It is an unlikely hit to say the least. The diamond certified single ultimately peaked at no. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 two years after it initially debuted 🤯. “Sail” spent 79 weeks on the charts – an incredibly impressive tenure.

“Maybe I should cry for help

Maybe I should kill myself

Blame it on my ADD, baby.”

Bitmoji Image Don’t kill yourself, Aaron! What made “Sail” such an epic hit for AWOLNATION and Bruno? The tuneful melody in the verses go a long way. Furthermore, the lyrics are intriguing, with Bruno referencing his ADD in both verses. The chorus, simply “Sail,” is brilliant, even though its simple. The significance of the “Sail” lyric, of course, is related to his issues/problems. His distorted, energetic vocals, also help craft the sound of this sole charting hit by AWOLNATION [Note: the band does have an additional gold certified single in 🎵 “Not Your Fault” but it didn’t chart]. Perhaps the biggest selling point is the sound and production. The synths are DEFINITELY the instrument to beat, performed by Bruno. Additionally, the drums (also Bruno) are epic too. 🎵 “Sail” speaks for itself.

Appears in 🔻:

AWOLNATION, Sail: 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏 1 (2023)

10. Commodores, “Sail On”

💿 Midnight Magic • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1979

“I know it’s a shame / But I’m giving you back your name / Yeah, yeah.” Uh-oh! It’s the D-word – divorce! That’s right, 🎙 Commodores’ 1979 classic, 🎵 “Sail On” (💿 Midnight Magic) is about the end of a marriage. Written by the iconic lead singer of the band at its height, 🎙 Lionel Richie, he wasn’t going through divorce at that time. Still, the narrative of this crossover R&B/soul cut is absolutely brilliant. It’s no surprise this soft-rock (yacht rock), country, and pop-infused joint reached no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Yes, I’ll be on my way

I won’t be back to stay

I guess I’ll move along

I’m looking for a good time.”

So, the man who is going through this breakup is moving on – “sail[ing] on down the line.” In the second verse, he asserts, “A small town boy like me / Just wasn’t your cup of tea / I was wishful thinking.” Apparently, Lionel, apparently. Fed up with trying to preserve it, on the grand bridge – essentially the centerpiece in this particular song – the protagonist lets go: “Sail on, honey / Good times never felt so good.” Beyond the personal narrative that’s not personal, the music is utterly sublime. Harmonized vocals, piano and guitar accompaniment, strings, horns – it possesses the total package. The grandest moment, of course, is the ‘bridge’ (again, essentially the chorus for this record).

Appears in 🔻:

11. Rick Ross, “Yacht Club” (Ft. Magazeen)

💿 Deeper Than Rap • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 📅 2009

“He’s not bigger than Biggie (Boss) bitch I’m bigger than you / It’s just a boat to mi casa like a milli or two.” You can guarantee when 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Rick Ross is in the picture, drip and money are heavily involved. Perhaps it does go 💿 Deeper Than Rap as his 2009 album asserts, but on 🎵 “Yacht Club” featuring 🎙 Magazeen, the money is a big, BIG deal. Also, sex and weed find their way into the mix. In the first verse, over this fine 🎛 J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production (sampling 🎵 “El Jardia” by 🎙 Johnny Pate, Ross spits:

“Okay, who rollin’ spinach? Cause I’m reelin’ the anchor

Smoke up an acre of grass, wake up in Jamaica

Couple nautical miles, I call my Cubanos to cop (Women)

Puerto Rico for women, hit Barbados to shop (Ha).”

It doesn’t end there, as the Boss drops two more verses where he spits major game. In the third verse, he informs us, “My dick a big stretch and quick to tell a bitch fetch / Told you to kiss her ass after you bought the bitch breasts.” WOO! As for Magazeen, he handles the chorus, where, “There’s a party, going on / All the girls dem welcome to the Yacht Club.”

12. The O’Jays, “Ship Ahoy”

💿 Ship Ahoy • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1973

“Can’t you feel the motion of the ocean / Can’t you feel the cold wind blowing by? / There’s so many fish in the sea…” 🎵 “Ship Ahoy” appears as the second track from 💿 Ship Ahoy, the 1973 critically acclaimed album by iconic soul collective, 🎙 The O’Jays. “Ship Ahoy” is never in a rush, clocking in more than nine-and-a-half minutes in duration. The track opens with a number of sound effects, including sound effects from a ship. Not just any ship, of course… Notably, the first vocals don’t enter until after the one-and-a-half-minute mark. Even then, it’s mostly agonizing, expressive ad-libs as opposed to traditional vocals. Following a two-and-a-half-minute build-up, “Ship Ahoy” evolves into a more traditional song. The chorus is the first traditional section of the song heard (“Ship Ahoy! Ship Ahoy! Ship Ahoy! Ship Ahoy”).

After the chorus, we get the first verse, which sets up the intent, meaning, and theme of the song: “As far as your eyes can see / Men, women, and baby slaves / Coming to the land of liberty.” Clearly, “Ship Ahoy” is about the slave ships traveling to America from Africa – heavy, troubling, but truly historic, socially conscious subject matter. classic “They’re coming by the hundreds / They’re coming by the thousands, too,” The O’Jays sing, continuing, “Look over the horizon, see the sun / Shining down on you…” The vocals by The O’Jays are on fire – locked and loaded, baby! The authenticity and degree of soulfulness is awe inspiring. Furthermore, the music is celestial despite the heavy subject matter! Of course, do we expect any less from the songwriting and production team of 🎼 ✍ 🎙 Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff! The palette consists of big drums, electrifying guitar, biting horns, and soaring strings. So much can be said of this 10-minute masterpiece. That said, it is better experienced through listening rather than a written description. 🎵 “Ship Ahoy” is easily one of the very best songs from The O’Jays.

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13. Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir, “Like A Ship”

💿 Like a Ship (Without a Sail) • 🏷 Numero Group • 📅 1971

“Just like a ship / Without a sail / But I’m not worried because I know / But I know we can take it…” Oh, the confidence 🎙 Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir have on 🎵 “Like A Ship”! Why does the pastor and choir believe they can persevere despite adverse circumstances, and arduous situations? Well, it is thanks to the all-knowing, all-powerful, and the merciful, GOD. What is interesting about this gospel song from the 1971 album, 💿 Like a Ship (Without a Sail) is the fact that God is mostly implied as opposed to named explicitly (Barrett does sing, “Lord knows I don’t have a sail” eventually). Don’t get it twisted though, this is a faith-based, religious record.

amen “I sail for pleasure / But I found pain,” Pastor T.L. Barrett asserts at one point, following up with “I look for sunshine / … But I found rain.” Essentially, we hope or expect when we do something, it will go swimmingly, without a hitch. Often, however, we encounter bumps in the road, many of which have the propensity to break our spirit. Pastor Barrett continues serving up those bumps in the road, with the Youth for Christ Choir offering up the response to his call. Ultimately, despite being “like a ship without a sail,” the pastor, choir, and those who believe have the ultimate way maker when it seems impossible, something the marvelous 🎵 “Like A Ship” illustrates perfectly 🙌.

Appears in 🔻:

13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Atlantic, FADER Label, Interscope, Island, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Motown, Numero Group, Red Bull, Secretly Canadian, Sony Music Entertainment, Sub Pop, Unidisc Music Inc.; Diego F. Parra, Oliver Sjöström from Pexels]

13 Alluring Songs Associated with Ships | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on August 25, 2023August 25, 2023