I'm sailing away
Set an open course for the virgin sea
'Cause I've got to be free
Free to face the life that's ahead of me
On board I'm the captain
So climb aboard
We'll search for tomorrow
On every shore and I'll try
Oh Lord, I'll try
To carry on

I look to the sea
Reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We live happily forever
So the story goes
But somehow we missed out
On that pot of gold
But we'll try best that we can
To carry on

A gathering of angels
Appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope
And this is what they said
They said, come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me (lads)
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me (baby)
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me

I thought that they were angels
But to my surprise
We climbed aboard their starship
We headed for the skies

Singing, come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me (lads)
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by JamesLove

Come Sail Away Lyrics as written by Dennis De Young

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Come Sail Away song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

57 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    General Comment

    Taken from songfacts.com:

    "This contains an allusion to the Bible verse of Ezekiel chapter 1:1-28 where a large wheel/cloud (depending on text) appears to Ezekiel and gives him instructions from God: "A gathering of angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said... (later in song)... I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise, they climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies." Some people believe the figure Ezekiel saw was not a messenger sent from God but an alien space craft or a time machine from the future."

    Seems plausible. Sorry if I ruined the song for anyone :P

    KellyWon February 25, 2007   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    I think this song goes hand-in-hand with Boat On A River...it's just about finding peace. Going in search of "home."

    IllToast2Thaton April 09, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    this songs makes me stop crying.

    baby smackson May 28, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    To me, this song is about doing whatever it takes to achieve your dreams. The angels are the good, aliens the bad. But good or bad, you need to achieve your dreams by yourself, not with the assistance of fictional figures.

    GreatWhite76on October 17, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    If the lyrics are overly cheesy it's because STYX is an overly cheesy band. They rock though, I'm a big STYX fan. America's gaudy answer to 70's/80's brit-pop.

    myhotelyearon June 19, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Has anybody heard Cartman's version on South Park. Its pretty damn funny! They use Styx's original music, with Cartmans sweet voice, and chef jumps in towards the end. I posted the lyrics. Just waitin for em to get approved!

    psychocatholicon April 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The Cartmen Version is great... no comparison to the styx version, but still great.

    doctorlove08on June 01, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    THIS SONG MAKES SWEET LOVE TO IT'S OWN EPIC GLORY. I like to sing this on the water or at school. Deep inside though, it's all about the freaks and geeks connection. Styx Stynx, I agree.

    redhouse_yonderon March 26, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Two things: Although every band was probably on SOMETHING during the seventies and eighties, some talented songwriters/singers have the ability to let random thoughts write a song. And this song wold certainly appear to be written by someone who was high. I'm not saying DeYoung or whoever wrote it wasn't, but that's my point.

    Secondly, I believe this song is not TOO cheesy, just enough, and that's it about adventure and dreams.

    Phoenix Ace94on September 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction

    Key correction:

    "They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies"

    should read

    "WE climbed aboard their starship WE headed for the skies."

    JamesLoveon July 16, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.