Sailor (song)
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"Sailor" is the title of the English-language rendering of the 1959 schlager composition " Seemann (Deine Heimat ist das Meer)" originally written in German by Werner Scharfenberger ( de) and lyricist
Fini Busch Fini can refer to: * Gianfranco Fini, Italian politician * Michele Fini, Italian footballer * Leonor Fini, Argentine artist * 795 Fini, a minor planet * Tapu Fini, a Gen VII Water/Fairy-type '' Pokémon'' species introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon ...
( de): featuring lyrics in English by
Norman Newell Norman Newell (25 January 1919 – 1 December 2004) was an English record producer, who was mainly active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also the songwriter, co-writer of many notable songs. As an A&R manager for EMI, he worked with musicians su ...
(writing as David West), "Sailor" would in 1961 afford
Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...
her first UK #1 hit, simultaneously granting Top Ten success to Anne Shelton while also bringing her chart career to a close. Clark was also afforded international success with both her recording of "Sailor" and also with Marin the French-language rendering of the song.


Original German-language version

:''see Seemann (Lolita song) § Original German-language version''


English-language version


Composition

Lyricist
Norman Newell Norman Newell (25 January 1919 – 1 December 2004) was an English record producer, who was mainly active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also the songwriter, co-writer of many notable songs. As an A&R manager for EMI, he worked with musicians su ...
would recall that his publisher phoned him on a Friday requesting he write English lyrics for
Lolita ''Lolita'' is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humber ...
's hit " Sailor (Your Home is the Sea)": although Newell agreed to prepare the lyrics over the weekend the assignment slipped his mind until a messenger arrived Monday morning to pick up Newell's work. (Norman Newell quote:) "I sent he messengerto the canteen and wrote the lyric or'Sailor' in ten minutes. I wondered it if was good enough, but it was a tremendous hit for both Petula Clark and Anne Shelton". While the original German lyrics of the song had addressed a seafaring love object with an acceptance of his
wanderlust Wanderlust is a strong desire to wander or travel and explore the world. Etymology The first documented use of the term in English occurred in 1902 as a reflection of what was then seen as a characteristically German predilection for wandering ...
the lyrics written by Newell - as David West - inverted this sentiment turning the song into a plea for the sailor to return.


Anne Shelton

The first recording of the English version of "Sailor" was made by Anne Shelton: the session for Shelton's version was arranged and conducted by
Wally Stott Angela Morley (10 March 192414 January 2009) was an English composer and conductor who became a familiar household name to BBC Radio listeners in the 1950s. She attributed her entry into composing and arranging largely to the influence and en ...
and featured guitarist
Big Jim Sullivan James George Tomkins (14 February 1941 – 2 October 2012), known professionally as Big Jim Sullivan, was an English musician whose career started in 1958. He was best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was one of t ...
who'd also play on the version by
Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...
. Shelton had spent four weeks at #1 UK with " Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956 but had since only had one further chart record: " The Village of St. Bernadette" #27 in 1959, when her version of "Sailor" reached #10 in January 1961. Although she'd been recording since 1943 "Sailor" was only her fifth UK chart appearance as her most intense period of popularity had pre-dated regulated record-sales chart formatting in the UK, and "Sailor" would mark Shelton's final chart appearance. Shelton's strongest association was as an entertainer of the forces in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
: while this made "Sailor" a good thematic choice for her this association also probably made her seem outmoded despite her only being nine years senior to Petula Clark whose version of "Sailor" would best Shelton's. Although Shelton's version of "Sailor" and Clark's both debuted on the UK Top 50 for 28 January 1961 there was immediate preference apparent for Clark's version at #18 over Shelton's at #27. The 4 February chart had Clark rise to #4 for the first of six weeks in the Top Five three of them at #2 and one at #1, while Shelton's version in its second week rose to #19 and in its third week to #10 which proved to be its peak as it subsequently descended the charts over the next five weeks for a total eight-week chart span: Clark's version had almost double the chart span at fifteen weeks.


Petula Clark

Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...
recorded "Sailor" with her regular producer
Alan A. Freeman Alan Albert Freeman, known professionally as Alan A. Freeman (27 September 1920 – 15 March 1985)General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: ''15''; Page: ''284''. ''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007'' atabas_...
_who_was_assisted_with_the_track's_production_by_Tony_Hatch,_marking_the_first_collaboration_between_Clark_and_her_future_hit_making_mentor._Clark,_based_in_Paris_since_1957,_had_been_pitched_"Sailor"_by_Hatch_and_orchestra_leader_Peter_Knight_(composer).html" ;"title="Tony_Hatch.html" ;"title="atabas ...
who was assisted with the track's production by Tony Hatch">atabas ...
who was assisted with the track's production by Tony Hatch, marking the first collaboration between Clark and her future hit making mentor. Clark, based in Paris since 1957, had been pitched "Sailor" by Hatch and orchestra leader Peter Knight (composer)">Peter Knight while in London for a conference: (Petula Clark quote:)"I said yes, yes, yes. It's a nice sounding song [that] I liked". In addition to the Peter Knight Orchestra and Chorus, the session personnel for Clark's recording of "Sailor" included guitarists Vic Flick and
Big Jim Sullivan James George Tomkins (14 February 1941 – 2 October 2012), known professionally as Big Jim Sullivan, was an English musician whose career started in 1958. He was best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was one of t ...
, and also Harry Pitch whose
harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...
playing was a striking feature of the track. Originally scheduled for 20 January 1961, the release of Clark's version of "Sailor" was moved up a week to 13 January due to Anne Shelton's version of the song being released within the first two weeks of the year. Clark's version of "Sailor" debuted at #18 on the
UK Top 50 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
dated 28 January 1961, becoming Clark's first UK chart entry since "Baby Lover", #12 in March 1958, an intermittent ten UK single releases having failed to chart. A sales total of 250,000 units for Clark's "Sailor" was announced by
Pye Records Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherhoo ...
the week of 18 February 1961 when the single was in its second week at #2: on the chart for the following week: that of 23 February 1961, Clark's "Sailor" moved to the #1 position of the UK chart, besting Clark's previous strongest UK charter:
With All My Heart "Gondolier" is a song by the French singer Dalida, first released on EP in December 1957. It was her second major hit after " Bambino". Reaching No. 1 on both the La Bourse des Chansons chart and the Music Hall chart in France, it was the title ...
" which in 1957 had peaked at #4. On the tally of the biggest UK hits of 1961 "Sailor" by Petula Clark is ranked at #16. Although "
Downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business distric ...
" was to become Clark's signature song its UK chart peak would be #2: the second Petula Clark single to reach #1 in the UK Singles Chart would be " This is My Song" in 1967. Both of Clark's UK #1 hits would compete with rival versions: "Sailor" would be a #10 hit for Anne Shelton while
Harry Secombe Sir Harold Donald Secombe (8 September 1921 – 11 April 2001) was a Welsh comedian, actor, singer and television presenter. Secombe was a member of the British radio comedy programme ''The Goon Show'' (1951–1960), playing many characters, m ...
's version of "This is My Song" would rise as high as #2. (The relevant recordings by both Shelton and Secombe have
Wally Stott Angela Morley (10 March 192414 January 2009) was an English composer and conductor who became a familiar household name to BBC Radio listeners in the 1950s. She attributed her entry into composing and arranging largely to the influence and en ...
perform arranging and conducting duties.) Clark's "Sailor" became the third hit version of the song in the
Low Countries The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
reaching #13 in the Netherlands and - in a tandem ranking with " Seemann (Deine Heimat ist das Meer)" by
Lolita ''Lolita'' is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humber ...
- #12 on the chart for the Flemish Region of Belgium where the Dutch-language rendering " Zeeman" had already been a Top Ten hit for
Caterina Valente Caterina Valente (born 14 January 1931) is a French multilingual singer, guitarist, and dancer of Italian ethnicity. Valente is a polyglot; she speaks six languages, and sings in eleven. While she is best known as a performer in Europe, Valente ...
. #1 in New Zealand and Israel in respectively March and September 1961, "Sailor" also afforded Clark a hit in Denmark (#9) and Spain (Top 20). In South Africa "Sailor" would twice become a Top Ten hit for Clark, first reaching #2 in its original 1961 release and subsequently afforded a #9 chart peak via a local re-release in the summer of 1968.


Other cover versions

Besides the versions by Anne Shelton and Petula Clark detailed above, two other acts had UK single releases of "Sailor" in January 1961: veteran American vocal trio
the Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the Swing music, swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andre ...
and also American stage musical actress
Eileen Rodgers Eileen Rodgers (July 10, 1930 – July 13, 2003) was an American singer and Broadway performer. Career Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1930, she began her career as a nightclub performer, later singing as lead vocalist with Charlie Spivak ...
, the latter version being entitled "Sailor (Your Home Is In
sic The Latin adverb ''sic'' (; "thus", "just as"; in full: , "thus was it written") inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed or translated exactly as found in the source text, complete with any e ...
 The Sea)". The Andrews Sisters, who were in London for an engagement at the Talk of the Town, made a one-off single for
Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
(UK) comprising "Sailor" backed by "Goodnight and Sweet Dreaming"; the tracks, which featured
Bernard Ebbinghouse Bernard (''Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern'' "bear" and ''hard'' "brav ...
( de) conducting his orchestra, were recorded 29 December 1960. The version of "Sailor" by Eileen Rodgers - which featured the Stan Applebaum Orchestra - had been recorded in New York City for
Kapp Records Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp (who set up American Decca Records in 1934). David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca and RCA Victor. Kapp licensed its records to L ...
the label who had issued the US hit version "Sailor (Your Home Is On The Sea)" which featured the original German-language vocal by
Lolita ''Lolita'' is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humber ...
: unreleased in the US, Rodgers' version was afforded release by Kapp's UK licensee
London Records London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...
only to be shortly afterwards withdrawn. In 1974 actor
Peter Gilmore John Peter Gilmore (25 August 1931 – 3 February 2013), known as Peter Gilmore, was an English actor, known for his portrayal of Captain James Onedin in 91 episodes of the BBC television period drama ''The Onedin Line'' (1971–1980), cre ...
, then renowned for his sea-captain role in the BBC-TV series ''
The Onedin Line ''The Onedin Line'' is a BBC television drama series that ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham. The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and covers the rise of a fictional shipping company, the Onedin Line, nam ...
'', recorded the album ''James Onedin Songs of the Sea'' from which his rendition of "Sailor" - entitled "Sailor (Seemann)" - was issued as a single (the album was recorded and released in the Netherlands). Louise Morrissey recorded "Sailor" for her 2008 album release ''The Gift''. An instrumental version of "Sailor (Your Home Is The Sea)" appears on the 1961 album ''Songs Of The Soaring '60s Volume 1 '' by
Roger Williams Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation ...
: the track later served as
B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
for Williams' 1965 single release "
Summer Wind Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset occurs, daylight hours are longest and dark hours are shortest, w ...
".


''Marin'': French-language version

When
Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...
charted in her native UK with the English-language rendering of "Sailor" reaching #1 in February 1961 she ended a UK chart absence of almost three years. However, during those same three years Clark did enjoy a string of hit singles in France and she expediently rendered her UK hit "Sailor" with French-language lyrics - by
Jean Broussolle Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...
( fr) - with the resultant track "Marin" becoming Clark's eighth French chart hit, its #2 peak - reached in May 1961 - matching Clark's previous best French charting that being with "Java Pour Petula" #2 in 1959. (Clark's English-language recording of "Sailor" had been issued in France in February 1961 failing to chart.) Clark's next French chart hit after "Marin": " Roméo" (also a French rendering a UK hit by Clark), would be the first of Clark's five French #1's. "Marin" reached #10 on the charts for the French-speaking sector of Belgium and the single also entered the
Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
charts (as "Sailor") in January 1961 peaking at #13 marking Clark's first appearance on an accredited North American chart almost four years before her breakout hit "
Downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business distric ...
". A
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of "Marin" - so entitled - was recorded by Québécois singer Pierrette Roy and was ranked at #22 on the annual tally of Québécois hits for 1961. "Marin" has also been recorded by Charles Level ( fr), Florence Passy ( fr), John William ( fr),
Antoni Williams Henry Anthony Williams (28 May 1939 – 1 October 2016), known professionally as Toni Williams or Antoni Williams, was a Cook Island-born New Zealand pop singer, who began singing at the Gandhi Hall in Auckland City where he became a local s ...
, and by Alain Morisod & Sweet People for their 2009 album which is entitled ''Marin''.


Versions in other languages

''see Seemann (Lolita song)''.


References

{{Authority control Songs about sailors UK Singles Chart number-one singles The Andrews Sisters songs Petula Clark songs Caterina Valente songs Songs with lyrics by Norman Newell Schlager songs Songs written by Werner Scharfenberger Songs written by Fini Busch Philips Records singles Pye Records singles