I really want to suggest CSN, Southern Cross, but I don't think it actually mentions a body of water in the lyrics. Marquess's and Papeete are actually French Polynesia.
Down by the River, Neil Young.
Take me to the River. I prefer the Al Green version, but Talking Heads will do.
The Ocean, Led Zeppelin
Sittin on the dock of the Bay, Otis Redding. This one is so good.
this Buckley gem is another oh so good ‘live cover.. but Fred lived it.. owns it
He, Lightfoot & Jimmie Buffet were pals from back in the way before & all along the road.. will check out Billy Bragg thanks.. i need reminders like that .. thanks ! 🦎🏴☠️🐬
(looking it up I find his description of the song: "This is about a long and weary, windless trip from Maine around to Halifax on a little black schooner that seemed to move only by the slatting of her gear. We had a coal stove in her, and the foresail used to downdraft onto the charlienoble, turn the stack into an intake and the cabin into a chimney. So, with the coalgas and the wet, the offwatch was not much more comfortable than the deadwatch."
[1] Credit where credit is due. While looking up songs I found this page in which a professor asked his students for songs that made them think of the Pacific Ocean, and "Dock Of The Bay" jumped out at me (the students comments are, as you might expect, trying a little too hard to come up with something that sounds smart -- but it's a good exercise): https://seanfraga.github.io/PacificPlaylist/
One other song I intended to mention. When I was growing up, I heard "Rivers of Texas" as a lullaby (nobody in my family was from Texas, they just liked the song).
Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (the wrath of Lake Superior)
It's such a classic. Never tire of hearing it. If it weren't so damned long, I'd likely have put it on the show. Great pick, my friend.
I’m pretty sure it’s a state law that every bar in WI has to have this on the jukebox.
Damn sure is in Michigan.
All of Canada too!
Talking Heads- Once In A Lifetime/Take me to the River/ Swamp
CSN- Southern Cross
The War On Drugs- An Ocean Between the Waves
PJ Harvey- Down By the Water
Meatpuppets- Lake of Fire
Damn, I forgot PJ! Love that CSN track too. Nice.
That PJ Harvey song is so good.
That whole album is amazing. I was fortunate enough to see that tour. Woah Nelly was that amazing.
Deep Purple, Smoke on the water.
I really want to suggest CSN, Southern Cross, but I don't think it actually mentions a body of water in the lyrics. Marquess's and Papeete are actually French Polynesia.
Down by the River, Neil Young.
Take me to the River. I prefer the Al Green version, but Talking Heads will do.
The Ocean, Led Zeppelin
Sittin on the dock of the Bay, Otis Redding. This one is so good.
Southern Cross is a bit of a stretch, but it does mention a boat and a “following sea,” so I went with it.
The judges will allow it.
Lol. Awesome.
Strangford Lough in Van Morrison’s “Cony Island”
Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Nice call, Kent. I actually included a different CCR track. You can prolly guess which one.
The lake in Allan Sherman’s “Camp Granada”
Ha!
Find The River - REM
Love it. Gotta confess, this totally made the show this week. Great call.
Enya - Orinoco Flow was the first song that came to my mind.
Pearl Jam - Oceans
Van Morrison - Into the Mystic (?)
How is it the Waterboys don’t have a song about a body of water?
Same re: Waterboys. I was sure they would have something. Love that you included Enya. That track is catchy as shit, you gotta admit it.
So catchy!! It’s been an earworm today! LOL
Nice, and I'll also recommend Jen Chapin's cover of "Into the Mystic " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6FPsRk-HHE
Aside from Gord’s - Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald (my Love is wrapping up Early Morning Pictures currently..)
CSN’s ‘Southern Cross’ for sure.. (Jimmy Buffet’s version is excellent too !)
Fred Neil’s ‘Searchin For The Dolphins’ plus ‘I’ve Got A Secret’ - same Album .. ‘skippin over the ocean like a storm..
The Clash - ‘London Calling’ .. .. I live by the river ..
Linda Ronstadt ‘Blue Bayou
Great call on the Fred Neil. That track is beautiful. The Billy Bragg version of 'Dolphins' is quite good as well.
this Buckley gem is another oh so good ‘live cover.. but Fred lived it.. owns it
He, Lightfoot & Jimmie Buffet were pals from back in the way before & all along the road.. will check out Billy Bragg thanks.. i need reminders like that .. thanks ! 🦎🏴☠️🐬
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJYdmaIByRA
Three Stones in the River by Wilson Thicket - https://open.spotify.com/track/5wfwJCypUvkpo8CWARkWtC?si=66e2f54846d34acb
Lake Erie, Last Summer by Nervous But Excited - https://open.spotify.com/track/7pAR7w8YfXzYGCz49RtZ4B?si=0e4b3f29ad9345fc
I don't know about bodies of water in a song, but as far as songs featuring bodies of water, leaving off classics that everybody knows:
Gregory Alan Isakov - That Sea, the Gambler
Ramona Falls - Salt Sack
Setting aside songs about boats (which could be it's own topic).
Otis Redding "Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay"[1] -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C-VscEQugk
Norman Blake "The Keeper Of The Government Light On The River" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zuusFN8ljk
Tom Russell "Mississippi River Runnin' Backwards" (give it a minute; it kicks into gear a bit when it hits the chorus) -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzUi5tXywac
Rosanne Cash "Miss The Mississippi And You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm8og-n3VEQ
Gordon Bok "Bay Of Fundy" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9dgJJtEtQQ
(looking it up I find his description of the song: "This is about a long and weary, windless trip from Maine around to Halifax on a little black schooner that seemed to move only by the slatting of her gear. We had a coal stove in her, and the foresail used to downdraft onto the charlienoble, turn the stack into an intake and the cabin into a chimney. So, with the coalgas and the wet, the offwatch was not much more comfortable than the deadwatch."
[1] Credit where credit is due. While looking up songs I found this page in which a professor asked his students for songs that made them think of the Pacific Ocean, and "Dock Of The Bay" jumped out at me (the students comments are, as you might expect, trying a little too hard to come up with something that sounds smart -- but it's a good exercise): https://seanfraga.github.io/PacificPlaylist/
These are great. I'd have to put 'Edmund Fitzgerald' at the top of a list of boat songs.
I'm gonna check that Gordon Bon song for sure. Thanks for the heads up.
One other song I intended to mention. When I was growing up, I heard "Rivers of Texas" as a lullaby (nobody in my family was from Texas, they just liked the song).
The version that's closest to what I remember is Bill Staines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w50bVqfOL0
Looking it up I see that it has been done by Lyle Lovett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syQRcMjISYw
and Townes Van Zandt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiqtur_z3Zk
Agreed about "Edmund Fitzgerald" (but there are more worth mentioning).
Since my body is 60% water, my favorite song is anything that celebrates this Sea of Complexity That Is Me! So that would be this chestnut:
"No one's frightened of playing it
Everyone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
All through your life
I me mine!" —George Harrison
“Roundabout” by Yes….but “in and around the lake” isn’t about a body of water so much as just a body. 🤣 I think it still kind of counts right?
〜 Leon Bridges - "River"
〜 The Drums - "Down By The Water"
〜 Florence + The Machine - "What The Water Gave Me"
〜 The Kooks - "Seaside"
〜 Lykke Li, The Magician - "I Follow Rivers" (The Magician Remix)