What was the number one song in the UK on 23rd February 1961?
By Hayley Beasley Dye
British singer, Petula Clark was at number one for 1 week with Sailor.
If ever there was a song that reminded me of my parents wailing in a slightly inebriated manner at family gatherings, it’s this song. It’s a nice song nevertheless, despite it’s being tainted by warbling parents. It definitely has that sing-along-ability (hence the enthusiastic renditions I was subjected to). I hope Petula’s sailor came home to her in the end.
Wikipedia
“Sailor” is the title of the English-language rendering of the 1959 schlager composition “Seemann (Deine Heimat ist das Meer)” originally written in German by Werner Scharfenberger (de) and lyricist Fini Busch (de): featuring lyrics in English by Norman Newell (writing as David West), “Sailor” would in 1961 afford Petula Clark her first UK #1 hit, simultaneously granting Top Ten success to Anne Shelton while also bringing her chart career to a close. Clark was also afforded international success with both her recording of “Sailor” and also with Marin the French-language rendering of the song.
Lyrics
“Sailor stop your roaming
Sailor stop your roaming
Sailor, leave the sea
Sailor, when the tide turns
Come home safe to me
Sailor, leave the sea
Sailor, when the tide turns
Come home safe to me
As you sail across the sea
All my love is there beside you
In Capri or Amsterdam
Honolulu or Siam To the harbour of my heart
I will send my love to guide you
As I call across the sea
Come home to me
All my love is there beside you
In Capri or Amsterdam
Honolulu or Siam To the harbour of my heart
I will send my love to guide you
As I call across the sea
Come home to me
Sailor stop your roaming
Sailor, leave the sea
Sailor, when the tide turns
Come home safe to me
Sailor, leave the sea
Sailor, when the tide turns
Come home safe to me
As you sail across the sea
All my love is there beside you
In Capri or Amsterdam
Honolulu or Siam To the harbour of my heart
I will send my love to guide you
As I call across the sea
Come home to me
All my love is there beside you
In Capri or Amsterdam
Honolulu or Siam To the harbour of my heart
I will send my love to guide you
As I call across the sea
Come home to me
Sailor
Sailor…”
Sailor…”