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