"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave (lyrics and music), originally performed by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their sixth studio album The Good Son (1990). It was released by Mute Records as the first single from the album on 12 March 1990, as a CD single, 7" vinyl and a 12" vinyl release. The song reached #84 on the UK Singles Charts.
The music video for the song was directed by John Hillcoat.
In May 2001 "The Ship Song" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.
Critical reception "The Ship Song" is widely regarded as one of Cave's best songs. In 2020, Far Out ranked the song number seven on their list of the 20 greatest Nick Cave songs, and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number five on their list of the 30 greatest Nick Cave songs.
Cover versions The Sydney Opera House, with agency the Monkeys, achieved the collaboration of Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan, Paul Kelly, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, the Temper Trap, Angus & Julia Stone, Concrete Blonde, and Daniel Johns, with Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, to perform and record a reinterpretation of "The Ship Song" over some months in 2010–2011. Titled "The Ship Song Project", the recording was to promote the Sydney Opera House.
Track listing The track listing for the single is:
"The Ship Song" (Nick Cave) - 5:14 "The Train Song" (Nick Cave) - 3:27
Personnel Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave — vocals, piano, hammond organ Blixa Bargeld — guitar, backing vocals Kid Congo Powers — guitar Mick Harvey — bass, guitar, vibraphone, backing vocals Thomas Wydler — drums
Technical Bill McGee — string arrangement Designlayout — artwork Polly Borland — photography Victor Van Vugt — engineer The Bad seeds — producer
Charts + Chart performance for "The Ship Song" Chart (1990) Peakposition Australia (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 138
Releases Format Country Label Catalogue No. Year CD single UK Mute CD MUTE 108 12 March 1990 7" single UK Mute MUTE 108 12 March 1990 12" single UK Mute 12 MUTE 108 12 March 1990 12" single (promotional) UK Mute P12 MUTE 108 12 March 1990 CD single Germany Mute International INT 826.930 March 1990
See also Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds discography
References
External links