| The Ship Song | |
| Cover: | The_Ship_Song.jpg |
| Caption: | 7" single cover |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds |
| Album: | The Good Son |
| A-Side: | The Ship Song |
| B-Side: | The Train Song |
| Released: | 12 March 1990 |
| Recorded: | Cardan Studios, Sao Paulo 8 October - 28 October 1989 |
| Genre: | Alternative rock |
| Length: | 5:14 |
| Label: | Mute Records |
| Producer: | The Bad Seeds |
| Prev Title: | Deanna |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | The Weeping Song |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave (lyrics and music),[1] originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 1990 The Good Son album. 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.[2] [3]
The video for the song was directed by John Hillcoat.[4]
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.[5]
"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,[6] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number five on their list of the 30 greatest Nick Cave songs.[7]
There have been numerous cover versions of the song performed by artists, including Camille O'Sullivan, Leatherface, Frankie Stubbs, Gene, Swirl, Boo Hewerdine, Concrete Blonde, Denis Walter, Immaculate Fools, Heather Nova and Lissie.
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 and Julia Stone, 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.[8]
The track listing for the single is:[9]
| 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 |