motorboat country song

The Best Country Songs About Boats

By Jof Owen

From Chris Janson to Dustin Lynch, here's Holler's best country songs about boats playlist.

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“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats", wrote Kenneth Grahame in his enduring classic Wind In The Willows, and that's something country singers have been taking very much to heart over the years.

Chris Janson knows money can't buy him happiness, but he knows it could buy him a boat, and a truck to pull it and a cool box full of beers. What more could you really ever wish for in life?

So if you've got a boat get out in it and if you haven't got a boat, just close your eyes and turn up Holler's Best Country Songs About Boats playlist and imagine you do.

See the full tracklist for Holler's Best Country Music Songs About Boats Playlist below:

Buy Me A Boat

Chris Janson

If I Had A Boat

Lyle Lovett

Sea Stories

Sturgill Simpson

Sailin' Around

Redneck yacht club.

Craig Morgan

Boats To Build

Something 'bout a boat.

Jimmy Buffett

Drive (For Daddy Gene)

Alan Jackson

Tequila On A Boat

Dustin Lynch & Chris Lane

Carrie Underwood

Zac Brown Band

Boat Drinks

Florida Georgia Line

Kenny Chesney

Better Boat

Kenny Chesney & Mindy Smith

I Was On A Boat That Day

Old Dominion

Tennessee River Run

Darryl Worley

Fast Boat To Sydney

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash

Little Big Town

Brian Kelley

Where The Boat Leaves From

Drunk on a boat, lovely cruise, need a boat.

Morgan Wallen

Brad Paisley

Zac Brown Band & Jimmy Buffett

John Denver

A Pirate Looks At Forty

Sail away home, can't get away from a good time, that's my kind of night, i want to go home.

Johnny Cash

Save It For A Rainy Day

Paradise to me, changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, better on the water.

Ashley McBryde

Wish I Had A Boat

One particular harbour, boat in a bottle.

Eric Paslay

Rum Is The Reason

Soul of a sailor, son of a son of a sailor, pirate flag, nautical wheelers.

Jimmy Buffett & Alan Jackson

For more of Holler's playlists, see below:

• The Best Country Songs About Flying
• The Best Truck-Driving Country Songs
• The Best Country Songs About Dogs

Subscribe and Listen to Holler's Best Country Songs About Boats Playlist Above.

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The 6 Best 21st Century Country Songs About Boats

It's getting easier and easier to make a summertime playlist of 21st century country favorites that doubles as a list of boat songs. It's a trope at this point, but it's been done right several times in recent memory by clear fans of Alan Jackson (he couldn't water ski in the " Chattahoochee " video without a boat, after all) and his "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" collaborator, Jimmy Buffett .

A boating playlist not limited by genre or time frame could include everything from Styx's "Come Sail Away" and the Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" to Lyle Lovett 's "If I Had a Boat," Sheryl Crow 's "Soak Up the Sun," Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat (Day-O)" and the Beach Boys ' version of "Sloop John B." But for the sake of brevity and to keep the focus on country music, we selected these six boating songs that'll be stuck in your head the next time you party at a lake house or order a frozen concoction from Margaritaville .

Table of Contents

"Knee Deep," "Zac Brown Band (with Jimmy Buffett)

The Zac Brown Band never stays in a particular musical lane, gifting us on occasion with such nautical-themed songs as this Buffett collaboration. ZBB tracks with similar vibes range from fan favorite "Toes" to the more recent allegory "Same Boat."

Read More:  Luke Combs Co-Wrote Zac Brown Band's New Songs, 'Out in the Middle' and 'Old Love Song'

"Boats," Kenny Chesney

Quite a few Kenny Chesney songs from the past 20 years qualify for this list, with "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" being the obvious choice. Yet we decided to go with this sentimental slow-burner about "vessels of freedom," co-written by Chesney, Scotty Emerick and George Strait 's go-to songwriter, Dean Dillon .

"Buy Me a Boat," Chris Janson

Wanna-be boat owners can relate to Chris Janson 's daydream about inheriting enough from a relative to trade in working 9-to-5 for a carefree life. It's a diamond from a time (2015, to be specific) some write off as offering nothing more than "bro-country" coal.

"Pontoon," Little Big Town

The vocal group that steals the show on most awards shows and televised specials celebrates country folks' typical weekends on the lake, not nautical getaway fantasies, with this No. 1 hit from 2012. Like many of the better country hits from the past 15 years or so, it connects with a broad audience because it deals with the simple pleasures of life.

"Redneck Yacht Club," Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan followed Travis Tritt 's lead and shared his club membership situation in song back in 2005. One of catchiest country hits from the early aughts brought us one of the few music videos that compares favorably to the visual accompaniment for Jackson's bottomless source of memes, "Chattahoochee."

"I Was on a Boat That Day," Old Dominion

The freshest cut on our list deserves consideration as one of 2021's songs of the summer, along with Willie Jones ' "Down By the Riverside" and its boat-themed music video. It's a healthy mix of fun in the sun vibes and biting, post-breakup sarcasm, reminiscent of Brad Paisley 's "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)."

Honorable mention songs: "Boat Names" by Brian Kelley and "For a Boat" by Luke Bryan

Now Watch: Luke Bryan's Family Story

You might also like.

Music Video Roundup: Kane Brown, Tenille Townes + More

10 Country Fishing Songs For a Day on the Lake

Country Songwriter Troy Jones Dies at 64 in Tragic Accident

'Margaritaville': The Texas Origins of Jimmy Buffett's 1977 Classic

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Little Big Town Pontoon (Music Video and Lyrics)

by steve ‐ September 13, 2023

photo: YouTube

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The Little Big Town Pontoon song was released in April 2012 as the first single from their fifth studio album,  Tornado .   This song became the first Little Big Town tune to reach #1 on the Billboard Country Music chart starting September 15, 2012.   Watch the music video and check out the lyrics to the song below.

Little Big Town Pontoon Music Video

The lyrics to Pontoon were written by  Natalie Hemby ,  Luke Laird  and  Barry Dean .

Little Big Town Pontoon Lyrics

Back this hitch up into the water Untie all the cables and rope Step onto the astro turf Get yourself a coozie Let’s go

Who said anything about skiin’? Floatin’ is all I wanna do You can climb the ladder Just don’t rock the boat while I barbeque

On the pontoon Makin’ waves and catchin’ rays up on the roof Jumpin’ out the back, don’t act like you don’t want to Party in slow motion Out here in the open Mmmmmmm…motorboatin’ (Hoo hoo hoo) Reach your hand down into the cooler Don’t drink it if the mountains aren’t blue Try to keep it steady as you recline on your black inner tube Pontoon Makin’ waves and catchin’ rays up on the roof Jumpin’ out the back, don’t act like you don’t want to Party in slow motion Out here in the open Mmmmmm…motorboatin’ (Hoo hoo hoo) (Hoo hoo hoo) 5 mile an hour with aluminum side Wood panelin’ with a water slide Can’t beat the heat, so let’s take a ride On the pontoon Makin’ waves and catchin’ rays up on the roof Jumpin’ out the back, don’t act like you don’t want to Party in slow motion I’m out here in the open Mmmmmmm…motorboatin’ On the pontoon (Hoo hoo hoo) On the pontoon (Hoo hoo hoo) Back this hitch out into the water On the pontoon (Hoo hoo hoo) (Hoo hoo hoo)

The music video and lyrics should put you in a great mood for summer!

Remember to “share” this with other Country Music fans.

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Story Behind the Song: 'Pontoon'

What if someone heard Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," misheard the lyrics and wrote a hit song called "Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza?"

That's essentially what happened with Little Big Town's "Pontoon." Co-writers Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean told the story behind the 2012 country hit to Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International .

I get up this morning, and Little Big Town is on "Good Morning America." Of course they're doing that song. That song just keeps materializing; I hear it everywhere. It's already in some commercials, right?

Natalie Hemby: I don't know, but I hear it on the lake all the time, so that's a good sign.

This whole thing starts with the publisher confusing something that they thought you guys had written. Luke?

Luke Laird: Natalie and I had written a song that Miranda (Lambert) recorded called "Fine Tune." It was on her last album, and it's still one of my favorite songs the two of us have written. Somebody had overheard "Fine Tune" playing in an office at the publishing company or something, and another person came and asked Natalie, "What was that song of yours? 'Pontoon' or something?"

NH: It was kind of like that. It wasn't me. It was somebody else that they said it to. They called me and (said), "They thought that you were saying 'Pontoon.' " So I called Luke and said, "We should write this really obnoxious song called 'Pontoon,' to be funny.

LL: Of course Barry and I were like, "Yeah."

Barry Dean: For Natalie that probably is lyrically not the most meaty song, but she takes a special angle on the lyric, and we shaped it that way. And Luke had that groove, and the production of the record (by) Jay Joyce. It's hipper than you think it would be. It's kind of built like an old country song, and then produced like something a little fresher.

LL: It literally is one of those songs that we never could have imagined. It started in the room. We all reacted to it, and I feel like as a writer, you have to trust that.

Now, there's a story after the song. You (Natalie) went to buy a pontoon. This is priceless to me.

NH: Oh yeah. Well, if you're going to write a song about a pontoon, someone has to buy one. My husband loves boats, so we took the plunge. These two still haven't bought one, and now we're probably going to end up selling ours. We went to go buy a boat, and it's a nice new boat a guy was selling. He had to sell it because his wife was pregnant and they just moved here. We took a ride on the boat, and we loved it. We had my in-laws on there, and just as we were about to leave ... we came back to the dock, and I have to leave because my daughter is getting a little fussy. She sings, "Motorboatin' " as we're getting off the boat, and the guy was like, "Oh my God, that song is so awful." (laughs) ... Not everybody likes your song, and that's OK.

— Compiled by Dave Paulson, [email protected]

About the series

In partnership with Nashville Songwriters Association International , each week we will release a video interview with a songwriter about his or her work. See the full interview with Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean at www.tennessean.com/music along with past installments.

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Little Big Town, ‘Pontoon’ – Lyrics Uncovered

The inspiration behind the lyrics to Little Big Town 's forthcoming single 'Pontoon' were a bit of a mix up, but for the band and the writers, a very, very good mix-up!  The song is the first single from the band's highly-anticipated fifth studio album, and it is already being called "the single of the summer" by many media outlets. 'Pontoon' was crafted by the amazing minds of Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby and Barry Dean.

"Natalie and I wrote a song called 'Fine Tune' for Miranda Lambert , and it's on her 'Four the Record' album," Laird tells Taste of Country. "We wrote the song, and Natalie's publisher had heard about it and asked, 'What's this song you and Luke wrote called 'Pontoon'?' And she was like, 'No, it's called 'Fine Tune.'' She was telling us that story when she and Barry and I got together to write. Then we were like, 'Well, 'Pontoon' would actually be a cool song to write!' [ laughs ]"

" Back that hitch up into the water / Untie all the cables and rope / Step onto the Astro Turf / Get yourself a koozie, let's go ," they wrote in the opening lyrics.

"We started it, and had sort of the first verse -- the first few lines," recalls Laird. "Then we didn't come back to it until several months later. We were like, 'Remember that song, 'Pontoon,' that we started? We should finish that.' It kind of stuck with all of us. So we got together another day and finished it, and of course, had a blast writing it."

" Pontoon / Makin’ waves and catchin’ rays up on the roof / Jumping off the back don’t act like you don’t want to / Party in slow motion / Out here in the open hmm, motor-boatin’ ," they wrote in the lyrics to the song's chorus.

"We knew we liked it, and a bunch of people put it on hold," notes Laird. "Little Big Town were all into it. The record label and everybody got on board with it, and it's been really exciting."

More From Taste of Country

Story Behind the Song: Little Big Town, ‘Pontoon’

In 2012, Little Big Town earned their very first No. 1 single with "Pontoon," the first single from their fifth studio album, Tornado . Written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, the song has been certified double platinum and took home Best Country Duo / Group Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2013. Below, Hemby tells The Boot about the day the song was written.

Luke Laird and I wrote a song called "Fine Tune" that Miranda Lambert cut on her  Four the Record album, and someone heard that song and though we said "pontoon." I thought that was hilarious, and I was like, "We should write this really obnoxious song called "Pontoon,"" and Luke was like, "Oh my gosh, we totally should do that."

So, some time went by, and Luke was like, "Have you met my friend Barry Dean?" and I was like, "No, I've never met Barry Dean." Literally, the first song I wrote with Barry Dean and Luke Laird, the two of them -- which, we've written several since this -- was "Pontoon" ...  Our first line originally was " Back this b---h up into the water,"  and obviously you can't say that on country radio, so eventually it was changed to "hitch."

So, we pitched this around to some people -- I know Dierks Bentley had put it on hold -- but the funniest response was from Kix Brooks : He said, "Hahaha! 'Back this b---h up into the water.'  I love it. I won't cut it, but I love it."

You know, ["Pontoon" producer] Jay [Joyce] is a friend of mine, and so is Little Big Town. I love all of them so, so much; they're the nicest people. They made the song so freaking cool, and then I got to go be out there [when they were shooting the music video]; we actually had a boat, and we pulled our boat near theirs when they were shooting "Pontoon" that day, so it was fun to get to watch that as well ...

I never knew it would get the reaction that it did. What was funny is, we'd be out on our boat, and I'd hear the song playing on all these different pontoon boats out on Percy Priest Lake, [located slightly east of Nashville]. It was so awesome to see the thing take off. Sometimes I find that it's a little surreal that that was actually the first No. 1 they ever had; the only reason I'm baffled by that is because I love so many of their other songs ...

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Pontoon by Little Big Town

Songfacts®:

• The first single from country quartet, Little Big Town's, fifth studio album was penned by Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird. Hemby came up with the idea for the song after her publisher misheard the title of " Fine Tune ," a cut she and Laird wrote for Miranda Lambert. Speaking with Songfacts, Dean explained : "She was really frustrated with this person for not understanding. Their job was to really know our stuff, and they didn't. But Luke heard that, and at that point, we really wanted to write it. I started Googling: Is there a 'Pontoon' already? Because you'd think, with the '90s in country music it had already been done. But it wasn't. There weren't any pontoon songs. I was, like, 'Are you kidding me?' And I looked at Luke and said, 'We're clear.'"
• A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float, which are used for both pleasure boating and fishing in the US. According to Sweet all four of the group's members had pontoon-boat experiences while growing up. At the 2013 ACM Awards, we asked Little Big Town if they were concerned about the title. Here's what they said: Kimberly Schlapman: We weren't really concerned until we went to London. We realized they really have no idea what a pontoon is. Jimi Westbrook: We thought everybody knew what a pontoon was. Karen Fairchild: Yeah, we grew up on pontoons and on the lake, and it's part of southern living. And I guess we just assumed everybody knew that. Motorboating is also very universal. [Laughing] If you didn't know what a pontoon was, you had another shot.
• Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet told The Boot the quartet on hearing the song, "fell in love with it instantly." He added. "We could hear ourselves singing it and we could feel the fun energy behind it. It's fun and sexy and summertime; it just feels right for right now."
• Karen Fairchild admitted to Billboard magazine that the band had some doubts when they first heard the song. "Natalie sang the demo and we thought, 'Man, that's a song that you've never heard.' First of all, who's ever written a song about a pontoon? Never heard that. But having a chick sing it? I don't know," she confessed. "There's something weird about the delivery when we heard Natalie sing it. And so we thought, 'This song is cool. It sounds like something country fans will really love if they could get a chance to hear it.'"
• This was the very first Country #1 for the Little Big Town quartet, who had been recording for 10 years. It was a huge breakthrough; their previous best placing had been "Bring it On Home," which peaked at #4 in 2006. LBT quickly rose to the top tier of country music, scoring a huge hit in 2014 with " Girl Crush ." For the writers of "Pontoon," who had a hard time finding an artist to take a chance on the song, it was a special feeling. "They'd been through three labels and maybe that many managers," Barry Dean told us. "It had been a ride. So there was a lot of pressure on that first single coming out, and they chose to bet on that. That was my first time feeling that: You're excited you got it cut and you're excited you got a single, but you care very deeply and you want to make sure that it helps them. That was the first time I kind of gulped and realized these artists are taking a risk. They're betting on me and our song. That was a real wake up call for me."
• In Nashville, getting a song to the right artist involves making a quality demo to show off the song. The songwriters are often talented singers and musicians, which was the case on "Pontoon." "For the demo, Natalie was pregnant and laying over on a couch with a handheld mic," Barry Dean explained in his Songfacts interview. "It had a weird electric guitar and a drum-machine beat, and it had a vocal. That went to Dierks [Bentley], and he hated it. Then it went to Kix Brooks, who sent us an email that said, 'This is hilarious, but there's no way I would cut it.' And at that time, Kix was about to do a solo album, but he was taking a break. If he wanted it, we would still be waiting. So Little Big Town heard it with their manager and they picked it up. They had a vision for it. Jay Joyce, the producer, he and [engineer] Jedd Hughes put on that 'uh-a-u-a-ow' - that signature riff was not on the demo. It was a mandolin Jedd Hughes was playing, and producer Jay Joyce is playing a mellotron mandolin keyboard thing with it. That's why it sounds so odd. So they put that on there and then did their Little Big Town thing. So the next thing you knew, it went from being kinda goofy, to being cool and sexy because of the way they are and the way Jay produced it."
• The song sparked a fashion craze, as fans sported T-shirts adorned with a phrase from the song, "Mmm....motorboatin'."
• The first line, "Back this bitch up into the water," is something Natalie Hemby came up with after Luke Laird goaded her into writing the song, which she thought was a stupid idea. "Luke has a way getting people to do things," Barry Dean told Songfacts. "He was like, 'Come on, what would you say?' And the first thing out of her mouth was, 'Back this bitch up into the water,' and we just fell out laughing."
• This was the first song that Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird wrote together. "We had each written with the other, but we were excited to get to write together," Dean recalled to American Songwriter magazine. Once they came up with the title, they were off and running. "Luke started playing the groove," said Dean. "I started playing bass on a synth. Pretty soon Natalie sang the first line of the song. When we got back together to finish it – which was really writing it - we used the same track we'd started. It was essentially a drum groove, electric guitars, and a bass line. Natalie who was quite pregnant sat on the couch, held an SM58 and sang it once, and that was the work tape."
• This song, along with the rest of the Tornado album, was produced by Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin, Eric Church, Cage the Elephant). Speaking with Billboard magazine, Karen Fairchild gave due credit to the producer's contribution to the record. "Jay is a great moderator of what feels good," she said. "He lets his heart guide him. We really don't over think things. If we're in the studio tracking a song like 'Pontoon,' and we've done it a few times and it feels good, that's it. He says 'Let's move on.' There's no reason to keep going if the vibe is right. There's a lot of fun, and a lot of spontaneity, and I think our fans can hear it on the album."
• After coming up with the hook for the song and the first verse, the three songwriters put it aside. Seven months later, they reconvened. Before Natalie Hemby arrived, Luke Laird and Barry Dean started working on the song. She was prepared to start something new, but when the guys showed her what they were working on, she helped them finish the song.
• The song opens with a mandolin lick played by Australian Country musician Jedd Hughes doubled by Jay Joyce with a mellotron mandolin sample.
• Little Big Town had been nominated for at least one CMA Award at six consecutive ceremonies since their first nomination in 2006, but walked away empty-handed each time. They finally broke their duck in 2012, picking up Single of the Year for this song as well as Vocal Group of the Year. "We' re living proof that if you work really really hard and chase your dreams, all the good stuff happens and it follows you," said Karen Fairchild.
• The video was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who also did LBT's " Day Drinking " and some of Taylor Swift's videos, including " Mean " and " We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together ." The setting is Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, specifically a section known as "party cove," where many a pontoon party takes place.
• This won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Karen Fairchild later told reporters backstage how they played around with the song in the studio. "We messed with taking the reverb off the vocal on 'Pontoon' and pulling it down a little bit and it didn't feel the same," she said. "We didn't know if anybody would play it because it was like that but the fans seem to dig it." Phillip Sweet added, "They like motor boating in reverb," which brought the room to laughter.
• The most surprising place that Barry Dean has heard this song was during his wife's high school reunion. He recalled to Billboard magazine: "They were doing karaoke, and somebody did 'Pontoon.' They didn't know I'd written it."
• More songs from Little Big Town
• More songs that won Grammys
• More songs about boats
• More songs with a mandolin
• More songs from 2012
• Lyrics to Pontoon
• Little Big Town Artistfacts

Comments: 2

• Cb from Ca Little Big Town's song Pontoon is a track mix disaster for the bass guitar track! It fades in and out of existence at the start of the song, blurps in real quick, then fades till a little bit later in the song.
• Camille from Toronto, Oh June, 2012. I just saw this video on TV today and can tell it's gonna be a BIG hit for a group that well deserves it. They have a fabulous sound and the video is perfection. Way to go!

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The Meaning Behind the Song Lyrics: “Pontoon” by Little Big Town

Alex Hopper

Updated: 

Songs of Summer Barbecues, Sponsored by Jack Daniel’s

American Songwriter has partnered up with Jack Daniel’s across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama to identify some favorite Songs of Summer Barbecues. During the series, American Songwriter will be taking a deeper dive into songs that have become as essential to barbecues as grills, good food, and friends. If you’re 21 and older, be sure to make Jack Daniel’s part of your next summer barbecue, and please remember to always drink responsibly!

Videos by American Songwriter

For many people, summertime means heading to the lake just as soon as the weather hits the upper 80s. It turns out, that’s Little Big Town’s version of summertime bliss, too, as evidenced by their 2012 track, “Pontoon.”

The song, originally released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Tornado , earned the band their first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country charts and remained at the top spot for over a week. “Pontoon” also clinched LBT several awards, including a Grammy for Best Country Group Performance.

Throughout the foot-tapping country track, Little Big Town paints the perfect summer day, complete with soaking in rays, floating, and taking an easy-breezy ride on a pontoon. Let’s dive into the lyrics behind the track.

Songwriters Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, and Barry Dean reportedly came up with the title after a publisher asked about a track the trio wrote for Miranda Lambert called “Fine Tune.” The publisher seemed to only get the gist of the title correct, calling it “Pontoon” instead. Laird and Hemby liked the sound of the new title and decided to make the flubbed song name a reality soon after. 

“It was started in a writing room at Universal Music, but we didn’t get very far—first verse, a few lines of chorus, but the music was clear,” Dean told American Songwriter in 2020 regarding the origins of “Pontoon.”

“It was months later before the three of us got back together because our calendars were crazy,” he continued. “We met at Luke’s office and it was right around the time Natalie was going to have her baby. We got together for a few hours, finished the chorus first, then wrote the second verse and bridge. They were both fun days.”

Looking Into the Lyrics

Swapping speed for an easy-cruising ride, the song fully leads into the comfort-first mentality of a pontoon boat. Unlike its Ski boat counterpart, pontoons are made for a gentle romp around the lake, perfect for enjoying a drink and relaxing with friends. Little Big Town sets that same scene with the opening lines.

Back this hitch up into the water / Untie all the cables and rope / Step onto the astroturf / Get yourself a koozie / Let’s go / Who said anything about skiing? / Floating is all I want to do / You can climb the ladder / Just don’t rock the boat while I barbeque

By the time the chorus hits, the listeners are headed straight toward carefree elation. Across the instant ear-worm refrain, they move into a “slow-motion” party, making waves and catching rays.

On the pontoon / Making waves and catching rays up on the roof / Jumping out the back, don’t act like you don’t want to / Party in slow motion / Out here in the open

Music Video

The accompanying video is exactly what you’d expect it to be. The four-piece heads out to the harbor, with coolers and instruments in tow, ready to live out the day they sing about in the song. Their pontoon is a double-decker cruiser named “Boondocks”—a reference to another classic LBT song of the same name.

As the video croons on, the party grows bigger without ever losing that gentle breeze. Check it out below. 

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Top 10 Country Songs About Boats

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Whether you want a song to listen to on a boat or a song to remind you of life on the romanticized high seas, these country songs are a good fit. Following are the top 10, in reverse order—no life jacket required. Imagine you're with your sweetie on a serene blue lake, an expansive bay where you can see for miles, or way out in the ocean , waves crashing, sun high in the sky. Lean back, shut your eyes, and take a listen.

Darryl Worley: "Tennessee River Run"

Darryl Worley knows how he likes to spend his weekend, and it isn't getting started on some of that yard work, cleaning and organizing the garage, or having dinner with the in-laws. Released in 2003, the song reached #31 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Kenny Chesney: "Boats"

Kenny Chesney loves the feeling of liberty he gets from being on H20. That's why he calls boats "vessels of freedom" and, yes, "harbors of healin'." "Boats" was released in 2008 on Chesney's "Lucky Old Sun" album.

Lyle Lovett: "If I Had a Boat"

Lyle Lovett is a lawn-chair surrealist in this song about a man who has it all: a boat, a pony, and a pony on the boat. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Tonto each make cameos. The sea lends itself to daydreaming. The 1988 song was part of Lovett's album, "Pontiac."

Guy Clark: "Boats to Build"

Guy Clark  is fed up with the daily grind. Now he's set to go the way of Noah in this take-this-job-and-shove-it gem. "Boats to Build" was the title track on Clark's 1992 album.

Zac Brown Band: "Knee Deep"

Zac Brown Band and Jimmy (Buffett, as if you had to ask) take a boat for a permanent vacation to a tropical destination. It's a move that isn't exactly original, but it sure is pleasurable. This song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 2011.

Little Big Town: "Pontoon"

Little Big Town 's party barge is ready for boarding, and the grill's ready for a fiesta "in slow motion, out here in the open." You really should catch this scene. "Pontoon" was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 2012.

Jimmy Buffett: "Lovely Cruise"

Jimmy Buffett  has a lot of great songs about boats, ships, and sailing. Among them are "A Pirate Looks Forty," "Boat Drinks" and "Son of a Son of a Sailor." But this one is particularly, well, lovely. "Lovely Cruise" is featured on Buffett's famous "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" album from 1977.

Craig Morgan: "Redneck Yacht Club"

Learn what happens when a trailer park gets its water wings. Don't miss the music video for this Craig Morgan boat-burner. The song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 2005.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: "Fishin' in the Dark"

According to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band , there's always a good excuse for going out on a boat at night when nothing but you and the fish are out. Oh, and maybe your baby, too. Wait, are we talking about fishing here? This was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart back in 1987.

Alan Jackson: "Chattahoochee"

This boating song gives the title to Alan Jackson 's 1992 album. For the man in this song, swimming on the riverbank of the Chattahoochee is where you learn "a lot about livin' and a little 'bout love." A No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, it reached No. 46 on Billboard's Hot 100.

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Little Big Town

About Pontoon

"Pontoon" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in April 2012 as the first single from their fifth studio album, Tornado. The song – written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean – became the group's first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of September 15, 2012. The song won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

 Struggling with Pontoon? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!

Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all four members alternating as lead singers. Westbrook and Sweet also play rhythm guitar. more »

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Written by: Natalie Hemby, Barry Dean, Luke Laird

Lyrics © MUSIC ASSET MANAGEMENT (MAM), Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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25 Best Songs for the Ultimate Boat Party Playlist

Table of Contents

Last Updated on June 6, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

Boating songs really bring out the best in everyone. There is nothing like having some relaxing music in the background or even blasting from the speakers of your  boat rental . Some songs on this list are true classics, while others might be new to your ears. We’re pretty sure your crew will learn the lyrics fast. Here are 25 of the best songs for your boat party playlist.

• Kokomo – The Beach Boys
• Sailing – Christopher Cross
• It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet
• Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffet
• Boats – Kenny  Chesney
• Banana Boat – Harry Belaforte
• Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
• Rock the Boat – Hues Corporation
• The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
• No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problems – Kenny Chesney
• How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees
• Sunshine and Summertime – Faith Hill
• Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys
• Soak Up the Sun – Sheryl Crow
• Son of a Son of a Sailor – Jimmy Buffet
• And, It Stoned Me – Van Morrison
• Drive – Alan Jackson
• Southern Cross – Crosby, Stills, & Nash
• Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
• The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot
• Yellow Submarine – The Beatles
• Come Sail Away – Synx
• Kenny Chesney, Uncle Kracker – When The Sun Goes Down
• David Gray – Sail Away
• Rod Steward – Sailing

Let’s crank the volume up and dive into these songs together.

Find unique boat rentals and on the water experiences near you  

1. “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys

You don’t really have to be anywhere near the Florida Keys to enjoy this tune, but it sure helps if you are. Listen to the enticing Caribbean steel drums and lie under the clear sky on your comfortable deck . Forget all your problems and simply enjoy some afternoon delights, cocktails, and the waterview.

2. “Sailing” by Christopher Cross

“And if the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity… oh, the canvas can do miracles/Just you wait and see/Believe me.” This popular and peaceful song from 1980 will certainly take you away from all of your worries and really set the scene for your next sailing vacation.

3. “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett

Country star Alan Jackson and living legend Jimmy Buffett give you all kinds of reasons to start an early day of drinking. We think you will find that on a boat, it is so much harder to feel any kind of guilt about pouring “something tall and strong”, whenever in the day the mood strikes you.

4. “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett

Another cracking tune by Buffett, this is the song that inspired his massive empire and an entire lifestyle of beach-related fun. Sailors young and old will forever be glad to spend time searching for that lost shaker of salt.

5. “Boats” by Kenny Chesney

Following in the sandy footsteps of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney is a newer country artist with a lot of summery songs that can go well with boats, including this really relaxing tune about “vessels of freedom.”

6. “Banana Boat (Day-O)” by Harry Belafonte

Way back in 1956, famous Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte put out this well-known song about the lives of dockworkers, and by now, almost everyone knows how to sing “day-o!”

7. “Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys

This one was originally a traditional West Indies folk song called “The John B. Sails” that the Beach Boys revised in 1966. The song is about John B., an old sponger boat whose crew often got drunk when they came into port . Not surprisingly, the boat crashed and sunk off the coast of the Bahamas in about 1900.

8. “Rock The Boat” by Hues Corporation

This 1974 disco hit “Rock The Boat” is sometimes considered the first disco song to top the Billboard Top 100 charts. The catchy song compares some of the ups and downs of being in a relationship to time spent on a boat.

9. “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

Recorded in 1968, this classic dedicated to the dock is ideal for a sunset sailing cruise. Listen closely to the song, and you’ll hear the soothing waves in the background while you are “wasting time.”

READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Sandbar Parties

10. “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” by Kenny Chesney

Chesney’s clever play on the popular “no shirt, no shoes, no service” saying might become one of the anthems of your next boat trip. Just don’t take his advice when you pull into port, or you may not get served after all.

11. “How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gees

This soothing and relaxing melody will leave you with long-lasting memories of the blue sky, the water, and a bunch of white sails flapping away in the distance “on a summer breeze”.

12. “Sunshine and Summertime” by Faith Hill

When this song comes on the playlist, you’ll probably think all about the barefoot ladies and people getting crazy on the boulevard. Just pull out your colas and ice-cold beers for a big boat party on the water .

13. “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys 

A popular throwback song that every American can get behind when they can’t wait till June, this famous hit has been the very epitome of summer since the Beach Boys released it in 1963. If you’re going on a boat trip in California , put this tune on while you sail around Alcatraz, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge , and go about.

14. “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow

Another thing to soak up is some sun. When there is not a cloud in the sky, just rub on some tropical sunscreen and turn up the volume on this hit from 2002. And if the boating lifestyle doesn’t get everyone in your crew to lay back and relax, sing louder when Sheryl Crow tells “everyone to lighten up.”

15. “Son of a Son of a Sailor” by Jimmy Buffett

Boating skills are often passed down from generation to generation, and Jimmy Buffett sings about that in this catchy song from 1978. Some of the best lines are at the end of the song, with “the sea’s in my veins, my tradition remains.”

16. “And It Stoned Me,” by Van Morrison

This is about two young guys on their way to the county fair. It starts raining, but it doesn’t bother them. They wait it out happily but don’t want it to rain all day. They hitch a ride to the creek for some fishing and swimming, then head home and meet their neighbor for some moonshine.

17. “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” by Alan Jackson

If you are taking a trip to a “little lake across the Alabama line ”, put on Alan Jackson’s 2002 story of a boat “built out of love.” For Jackson, the boat is a “piece of my childhood that’ll never be forgotten.”

18. “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills & Nash

According to Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1982, their many years of sailing under the Southern Cross became a really helpful way to get over some of their most difficult relationship problems.

19. “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison

Simply listen to Van Morrison’s amazing melodies and evocative lyrics to feel like you’re in a movie about boating . Lie back, smell the sea, feel the sky, and let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic.

20. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot

If you are looking to learn a bit of history while enjoying your music, this song might be just perfect for you on the water. It recounts the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald freighter, a large ship that came to a watery end during a powerful storm in November 1975.

21. “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles

This famous song does not actually try to tell a specific story, and some of the lyrics are hard to understand, but the blue skies, a sea of green, and a yellow submarine make this tune the closest thing to a Beatles boating song there is.

22. “Come Sail Away” by Styx

Styx band member Dennis DeYoung wrote the song feeling a little depressed about lower than expected album sales. Over the years, it has reached immense popularity, getting featured on adult cartoons like South Park and Family Guy!

23. Kenny Chesney, Uncle Kracker – When The Sun Goes Down

24. David Gray – Sail Away

25. Rod Steward – Sailing

Explore water-travel destinations! Find your next trip at Destination guides and other boating resources here .

Songs about boats

Here are some other great boating songs that will help you keep a great mood while boating. Listen to these songs on a boat and make sure the party keeps on going.

26. Little Big Town – Pontoon

27. Ed Sheeran – Boat

28. Chris Janson – “Buy Me A Boat”

29. Blackjack Billy – The Booze Cruise

30. Luke Bryan – Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day

31. Crosby, Stills & Nash – Southern Cross

32. Drunken Sailer – Irish Rovers

33. Where the Boat Leaves From – Zac Brown Band

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