Classic Western songs about the sea: recommended popular tracks
The sea, so beloved that it’s often called the “mother ocean,” can at times be terrifying as well—it’s a vast presence in our lives.
From the cheerful image of summer vacations to the fierce waves that evoke the harshness of winter, the sea has long been a source of inspiration and a theme for many artists.
In this article, we’ve picked out famous hits, popular tracks, and hidden gems in Western music that center on the theme of the sea!
You’ll find not only songs that sing directly about the ocean, but also tracks about passionate seaside romances and songs that use the sea as a metaphor—we’ve researched from a wide range of angles, so you just might discover an unexpected classic.
Enjoy!
Playlist
| Classic Western songs about the sea: recommended popular tracks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | The Ocean ft. Shy MartinMike Perry |  play_arrow | 『The Ocean ft. Shy M… |
| 2east | Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)Hillsong Music |  play_arrow | Where are the worship songs that sing of the deep sea...? |
| 3east | Way Back Home Sam Feldt EditSHAUN feat. Conor Maynard |  play_arrow | A moving work that sings of love and longing for one’s hometown. |
| 4east | Come Away With MeNorah Jones |  play_arrow | A ballad that depicts Norah Jones’s yearning to elope with her beloved |
| 5east | IllusionDua Lipa |  play_arrow | Dua Lipa’s new song portrays psychological mind games. |
| 6east | WaterTyla |  play_arrow | Tyler’s passionate love song becomes a global hit |
| 7east | Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)OMI |  play_arrow | A singer-songwriter from Jamaica, … |
| 8east | Ocean (Remix)KAROL G & Jessie Reyez |  play_arrow | The popular Latin pop songstress, KAROL G, is... |
| 9east | Oceans & Enginesniki |  play_arrow | A poignant piece that uses the vastness and depth of the sea as a metaphor… |
| 10east | Don’t Fight The Sea ft. The Beach BoysAl Jardine |  play_arrow | What makes you feel the grandeur and power of the sea is... |
| 11east | California Gurls ft. Snoop DoggKaty Perry |  play_arrow | A fun pop song with an ocean theme in the style of Katy Perry. |
| 12east | Cake By The OceanDNCE |  play_arrow | Jo..., who used to be a member of the Jonas Brothers, |
| 13east | Perfect Strangers ft. JP CooperJonas Blue |  play_arrow | A song about a special bond born from a chance encounter |
| 14east | SeasideHaux |  play_arrow | An indie… that masterfully captures the seaside’s tranquility and introspection |
| 15east | GardenDua Lipa |  play_arrow | A nostalgic sound from the 1980s... |
| 16east | Mariners Apartment ComplexLana Del Rey |  play_arrow | Lana’s beautiful ballad that sings of strength and support |
| 17east | I Sat by the OceanQueens of the Stone Age |  play_arrow | Known as a pioneer of stoner rock, Ji... |
| 18east | Ocean (ft. Jacquees)TK Kravitz |  play_arrow | Among songs themed around the sea, TK K… |
| 19east | How I Became the SeaOwl City |  play_arrow | As a song depicting a transformation into the sea, Owl Ci... |
| 20east | Ocean Breathes SaltyModest Mouse |  play_arrow | While using the sea as its theme, it explores the profound themes of life and death… |
| 21east | Running To The SeaRöyksopp |  play_arrow | The song I’m introducing this time is by an electronica duo… |
| 22east | Only the OceanJack Johnson |  play_arrow | Relaxed and laid-back, it's popular even in Japan... |
| 23east | The OceanLed Zeppelin |  play_arrow | The rock band that represents the UK, Led… |
| 24east | Blue Ocean FloorJustin Timberlake |  play_arrow | Lyrics with a floating sensation, as if drifting in the sea, and… |
| 25east | The WaveR3HAB x Lia Marie Johnson |  play_arrow | Ms. Lia Marie Johnson from Hawaii… |
| 26east | Orinoco FlowEnya |  play_arrow | Irish singer Enya is world... |
| 27east | Surfin’ U.S.A.The Beach Boys |  | The American rock band, The Beach Bo… |
| 28east | Sail On, SailorThe Beach Boys |  play_arrow | No matter what I go through, I won’t stop moving forward… |
| 29east | SUMMER PARADISE feat. Taka from ONE OK ROCKSimple Plan |  play_arrow | An uninhibited pop-punk set against a summer seaside backdrop… |
| 30east | On The SeaBeach House |  play_arrow | Victoria Legrand and Alex ... |
| 31east | Under The SeaThe Little Mermaid |  play_arrow | Disney’s hugely popular film based on The Little Mermaid… |
| 32east | To The SeaJack Johnson |  play_arrow | American singer-songwriter, Jac... |
| 33east | KokomoThe Beach Boys |  play_arrow | A device that makes you feel like you're at a resort... |
| 34east | VacationThe Go-Go’s |  play_arrow | The three main songwriters of the Go-Go’s… |
| 35east | Ocean DriveDuke Dumont |  play_arrow | With a cool, ’80s-style sound, with a complicated backstory… |
| 36east | Surf CityJan & Dean |  play_arrow | Jan & Dean were active from 1963 to 196… |
| 37east | Octopus’s GardenThe Beatles |  play_arrow | The Beatles’ ... from the classic album Abbey Road |
| 38east | The Sea Is CallingThe Temper Trap |  play_arrow | As a song that sings of the grandeur of the sea, 'The Sea…' |
| 39east | Edge of the OceanStick Figure |  play_arrow | Song of Hope and New Beginnings for a Stick Figure |
| 40east | Surf Wax AmericaWeezer |  play_arrow | Nicknamed 'Crybaby Rock,' the American power po... |
| 41east | Redondo BeachPatti Smith |  play_arrow | In the early 1970s, Patti Smith… |
| 42east | Some BeachBlake Shelton |  play_arrow | Rory Feek and Paul Overs… |
| 43east | The Love Boat ThemeJack Jones |  play_arrow | It gained popularity from 1977 to 1986... |
| 44east | OceansJay Z ft Frank Ocean |  play_arrow | On the generational impacts of the transatlantic slave trade… |
| 45east | SeasideDiane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofía Reyes, Reik |  play_arrow | Away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, finding peace by the sea... |
| 46east | Wipe OutThe Surfaris |  play_arrow | The only vocals are the occasional phrase, “Wai…” |
| 47east | OceanKultur |  play_arrow | Hypetrak and Majestic Ca… |
| 48east | Ocean EyesBillie Eilish |  play_arrow | “Ocean Eyes” was released in 2015… |
| 49east | Tenerife SeaEd Sheeran |  play_arrow | To fall in love with someone whose eyes are like the sea of Tenerife... |
| 50east | On The OceanK’Jon |  play_arrow | K’Jon from Detroit is a soul/R&B… |
| 51east | OceanLady Antebellum |  play_arrow | They became globally well-known with 'Need You Now'... |
| 52east | Lost at SeaRob Grant, Lana Del Rey |  play_arrow | A Heartfelt Voyage to the Sea Through a Parent-Child Performance |
| 53east | I Don’t CareEd Sheeran & Justin Bieber |  play_arrow | A song where introverted emotions are released through love |
| 54east | How Deep Is the OceanEric Clapton |  play_arrow | With exceptional guitar technique, he has gained international popularity... |
| 55east | OceansPearl Jam |  play_arrow | Frontman Eddie Vedder sa… |
| 56east | The Lazy SongBruno Mars |  play_arrow | A smash hit song depicting Bruno Mars's lazy everyday life |
| 57east | Summer GirlHaim |  play_arrow | A pop number that portrays the warmth of summer and the bonds of human relationships |
| 58east | augustTaylor Swift |  play_arrow | A wistful love ballad at summer’s end |
| 59east | God Moving over the Face of the WatersMoby |  play_arrow | Translucent grains of piano sound reflect off the surface of the water… |
| 60east | Behind the SeaPanic! At The Disco |  play_arrow | The Sea Song by Panic! At The Disco |
| 61east | Summer FeelingsLennon Stella feat. Charlie Puth |  play_arrow | A summer hit is born—the summer anthem! |
| 62east | On The BeachChris Rea |  play_arrow | This song was a heavy [something] on VH1 in 1986… |
| 63east | Song of the SeaLisa Hannigan |  play_arrow | The mystical sea song that sings of the selkie legend |
| 64east | CalypsoJohn Denver |  play_arrow | Jacques-Yves Coustea… |
| 65east | OceansSeafret |  play_arrow | A poignant song that sings about the distance between the sea and love. |
| 66east | To The SeaRazorlight |  play_arrow | A rock band from London, England, re... |
| 67east | Beyond the SeaBobby Darin |  play_arrow | “Beyond the Sea” is originally… |
| 68east | I’m YoursJason Mraz |  play_arrow | A masterpiece by Mraz that sings of love and life |
| 69east | Billionaire ft. Bruno MarsTravie Mccoy |  play_arrow | Travi and Bruno's hit song, Dreams and Hopes |
| 70east | The SeaHAEVN |  play_arrow | An ambient track that depicts the sea of life |
| 71east | Walk On The OceanToad The Wet Sprocket |  play_arrow | Todd Nichols, the band’s guitarist… |
| 72east | Oceans AwayARIZONA |  play_arrow | Dreamy sounds and a wistful melody leave an impres… |
| 73east | OceansColdplay |  play_arrow | It’s a sad song about lost love, and… |
| 74east | Oceans AwayElton John |  play_arrow | A singer-songwriter who represents the United Kingdom… |
| 75east | Beach BabyFirst Class |  play_arrow | Mr. John Carter and his wife, Cora… |
| 76east | UnderwaterKidswaste |  play_arrow | A rising talent from France, a young producer... |
| 77east | OceanMartin Garrix feat. Khalid |  play_arrow | “Ocean,” which sings of “absolute love.” O… |
| 78east | Under The BoardwalkThe Drifters |  play_arrow | Arthur Resnick and Kenny… |
| 79east | The SeaMorcheeba |  play_arrow | British singer Morcheeba. She... |
| 80east | Sittin’ On the Dock of the BayOtis Redding |  play_arrow | Mr. Reading said that when this song was released 1... |
| 81east | A Drop In The OceanRon Pope |  play_arrow | A heart-stirring masterpiece where wistfulness and hope intertwine... |
| 82east | Come Sail AwayStyx |  play_arrow | The sea can be gentle at times and rough at others… |
| 83east | SeasideThe Kooks |  play_arrow | Many people have been on a date to the beach... |
| 84east | Bones in the OceanThe Longest Johns |  play_arrow | A work known as a sea shanty steeped in melancholy... |
| 85east | Torna a SurrientoLuciano Pavarotti |  play_arrow | A representative song of canzone, “Torna a …” |
| 86east | Lightning By The SeaBeshken |  play_arrow | Minimal, reminiscent of Radiohead… |
| 87east | PacificElectric Mantis |  play_arrow | “Pacific” is from Portland... |
| 88east | Sea CruiseFrankie Ford |  play_arrow | Hugh, a popular pianist from New Orleans… |
| 89east | Lost SailorGrateful Dead |  play_arrow | A blend of rock and country music… |
| 90east | Beach SideKings Of Leon |  play_arrow | 7 by Nathan Followill... |
| 91east | Astronaut in the OceanMasked Wolf |  play_arrow | The lyrics likening it to an astronaut drifting underwater are striking... |
| 92east | OceansPETIT BISCUIT |  play_arrow | Since my high school days, I’ve been hailed as a rising star in the French pop scene… |
| 93east | Ocean of Thought (feat. machinedrum)TPOLM |  play_arrow | A hotbed of cutting-edge talent, a cult label, Ninja Chi... |
| 94east | ToesZac Brown Band |  play_arrow | Zac Brown, the bassist John… |
| 95east | CHILDREN OF THE SEABlack Sabbath |  play_arrow | Among Black Sabbath’s songs, the most enigmatic… |
| 96east | CarusoLucio Dalla |  play_arrow | Not only from Italy, but from all over the world, extremely... |
| 97east | Remember (Walking in the Sand)The Shangri- Las |  play_arrow | A song that sings about young love, The Sh... |
| 98east | Louie LouieThe Kingsmen |  play_arrow | In 1955, the R&B singer Richard … |
| 99east | Across the SeaWeezer |  play_arrow | The American rock band Weezer’s “A…”. |