Sails (song)

Infobox Song
Name = Sails
Type = Song
Artist = Elton John
Album = Empty Sky


track_no = 6
Released = June 3, 1969 (UK)
January 13, 1975 (USA)
Recorded = DJM Studios, 1969
Genre = Rock, Pop, Psychedelic Rock
Length = 3:45
Label = DJM Records MCA Records (US/Canada-1975)
Writer = Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer = Steve Brown
prev = "Lady What's Tomorrow"
prev_no = 5
next = "The Scaffold"
next_no = 7

Sails is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the sixth track off his first album, "Empty Sky".

Musical structure

The songs open with an electric guitar feedback accompagnied by piano chords. The song then kicks off to a rather psychedelic feel with Wah-wah pedal-oriented guitars and a distorted electric piano, carrying an R&B-sound. Overall, the song could be described as "Psychedelic Pop", due to the vocal. But the heavy drumming and syncopated bass and guitar overshadow the "pop" feel.

Lyrical meaning

The lyrics are very complex. It is relatively a short lyric, but the cryptic lyrics make it a song that seems long. But basically, it is just two people meeting by the waterside watching the horizon. The chorus goes:

"While the seagulls were screaming
"Lucy was eating
"Then we hauled up our colors
"The way that mother had told us
"And together we just watched the sails"

Performances

It was never played in concert. It was however played in various radio shows John did after the release of the album.

Personnel

*Elton John - electric piano, vocals
*Caleb Quaye - guitar
*Tony Murray - bass
*Roger Pope - drums