Sail Away (Mardi Gras)
Background
"Sail Away" is an album track on Mardi Gras, the seventh and the last long-player of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
On Mardi Gras, each member of the band contributed one-third of the original material. "Sail Away" is a song written, sung and produced by Creedence Clearwater bassist Stu Cook. Reportedly, he also plays the lead guitar.
The lyrics of the song ("Spent a long time list'ning to the captain of the sea,
Shoutin' orders to his crew; No one hears but me") seem to point to John Fogerty and describe the inner situation of the band. Cook has never commented his lyrics though.
Trivia
John Fogerty recorded a song titled "Sail Away" for his solo album Eye of the Zombie in 1986. It's a different song, written by John Fogerty.
Live versions
Creedence Clearwater never performed the song live in concert.
Critical reception
"Only "Sail Away" is difficult to listen to, due to Cook's flat, overemphasized vocals ---". -Thomas Erlewine, All Music.
Fans' views
"The song isn't bad, the vocal is brutal. The solo is nice, whoever plays it."
"I've always felt that Stu's 'Sail Away' is one of the better tracks on Mardi Gras."
Written by Stu Cook.
Recorded at Studio C, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, USA, in January 1972.
Appears on Mardi Gras album.
Released on April 11th, 1972.