Gavin Sutherland would comment: "Most people take the song to be about a young guy telling his girl that he's crossing the Atlantic to be with her. In fact the song's got nothing to do with romance or ships; it's an account of mankind's spiritual odyssey through life on his way to freedom and fulfillment with the Supreme Being."  

  I am sailing, I am sailing
Home again cross the sea
I am sailing, stormy waters
To be near you, to be free

I am flying, I am flying
Like a bird cross the sky
I am flying, passing high clouds
To be with you, to be free

Can you hear me, can you hear me
Thro the dark night, far away
I am dying, forever trying
To be with you, who can say

Can you hear me, can you hear me
Thro' the dark night far away
I am dying, forever trying
To be with you, who can say

We are sailing, we are sailing
Home again cross the sea
We are sailing stormy waters
To be near you, to be free

Oh lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh my lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh my lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh my lord
We are sailing, we are sailing,
Oh yes you've got to fly just to touch the sky
Home again cross the sea.
We are sailing stormy waters,
To be near you near you, to be free.
We are sailing, we are sailing, sailing.