Sailing

"Sailing" was written and recorded by the Sutherland Brothers – a duo consisting of Gavin and Iain Sutherland – in 1972 session. the brothers provided their own backing with Gavin on bass drum and Iain on harmonium. Gavin Sutherland said of the song, "Most people take the song to be about a young guy telling his girl that he's crossing the Atlantic to be with her. In fact the song's got nothing to do with romance or ships; it's an account of mankind's spiritual odyssey through life on his way to freedom and fulfillment with the Supreme Being."

"Sailing" was recorded by Rod Stewart for his first album recorded in North America. The led to Stewart's recording of "Sailing" began when Stewart's live-in girlfriend Dee Harrington saw the Sutherland Brothers on 1972 broadcast of the music program. Stewart did indeed become a Sutherland Brothers fan after seeing them perform.

In December 1990 "Sailing" was remade as a protest song against the repatriation of Vietnamese boat people who'd fled to Hong Kong: Steve Hackett, who organized this multi-artist recording intended to raise funds to assist those living in refugee camps.

I am sailing

I am sailing

Home again

'Cross the sea

I am sailing

Stormy waters

To be near you

To be free

I am flying

I am flying

Like a bird

'Cross the sky

I am flying

Passing high clouds

To be near you

To be free

Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Through the dark night, far away

I am dying, forever crying

To be with you, who can say

Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Through the dark night, far away

I am dying, forever crying

To be with you, who can say?

We are sailing, we are sailing

Home again

'Cross the sea

We are sailing

Stormy waters

To be near you

To be free

Oh, Lord, to be near you, to be free

Oh, my Lord, to be near you, to be free

Oh, my Lord, to be near you, to be free

Oh, Lord