23 Best Songs About Water

The best songs about water cover a broad spectrum of genres and styles and have been a common feature in music over many generations.

Since water is a primal force and essential for the survival of the species, it’s little wonder that singers and bands have drawn on it for inspiration for their songs.

In this playlist, we’ll break down the best songs that explore this fundamental element in all its aspects, as well as those that use water symbolically.

The 23 Best Songs About Water

With water, a ubiquitous topic that inspires countless musicians and singers, songs written about water are found in many different genres.

We’ve ensured this list covers a broad range of artists from the past several decades and beyond, so whatever your music taste, there’s something here for you.

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 23 best songs about water:

23. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” – Creedence Clearwater Revival

We’ll get this playlist started by exploring the best songs about water with this classic track from Creedence Clearwater Revival.

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is a powerful song about the nature of fame and fortune and how these things don’t always bring happiness.

It’s a somewhat downbeat song that matches the imagery of rain with depressing thoughts.

22. “Smoke On The Water” – Deep Purple

The Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water,” which was somewhat ironically inspired by fire, is sometimes considered to be one of the best songs about fire ever recorded.

It’s based on bass player Roger Glover’s experiences seeing smoke rising from the water of Lake Geneva.

Deep Purple enjoyed huge success with “Smoke on the Water,” and the song is among the most requested at their live performances.

21. “The Water Song” – The Incredible String Band

With its straight-to-the-point song title, “The Water Song” by the Incredible String Band is quite literally all about water.

It’s a psychedelic rock classic from the British band that encapsulated the hippie culture of the 1960s as well as any comparable band.

As you might expect from a song of this nature, it features unique lyrics, which call water the “silvery mother of life.”

20. “Water” – Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley kept things nice and simple in his 2009 song “Water,” released on the album American Saturday Night.

“Inflatable pool full of Dad’s hot air,” Brad Paisley sings in this song, continuing, “I was 3 years old splashin’ everywhere.”

Over the course of his career so far, Brad Paisley has picked up three Grammy Awards in addition to an impressive further 18 nominations.

19. “Raindrop Prelude” – Chopin

Chopin’s “Raindrop Prelude” takes an altogether more melodic and classical approach to the subject of water.

The piano maestro shows off the full extent of his abilities with this complex yet beautiful piece of music, which remains a favorite among his many fans.

One of his most famous works, “Raindrop Prelude,” which is one of 24 Chopin interludes, is the longest of them all, lasting 7 minutes.

18. “Sea Of Love” – The National

Alternative indie rock band The National released “Sea of Love” in 2013 on their popular album Trouble Will Find Me.

“I see people on the floor. They slide into the sea,” the lyrics begin, continuing with, “Can’t stay here anymore, we’re turning into fiends.”

Trouble Will Find Me proved to be a big success in the charts, both in America and the United Kingdom, selling hundreds of thousands of copies.

17. “Splish Splash” – Bobby Darin

A more quirky and upbeat song about water, Bobby Darin’s “Splish Splash” featured nonsensical lyrics and a catchy hook.

It’s a classic pop song that eschews any hidden meaning in favor of something straight-up fun and engaging.

If you’re looking for songs about water that are infectious and entertaining, this classic from Bobby Darin should be just the ticket.

16. “The River” – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen earned his reputation as a man of the people thanks to his previous work in blue-collar jobs before he found fame as a musician.

“The River” sees him in fine form, singing about a man who loses his job in the construction industry in a small town and how this affects his marriage.

It’s a beautiful song about water that uses the water of the river as a symbol of man’s hopes and dreams for the future.

15. “Down By The Water” – PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey takes her listeners to “Down by the Water” in another great song, albeit one with a darker undercurrent running through the lyrics.

A sober song about a woman who drowns her child, it’s widely regarded as one of the best songs PJ Harvey has produced.

Released in 1995, “Down by the Water” was featured on the PJ Harvey album To Bring You My Love, which is among her most popular releases.

14. “Oceania” – Björk

In “Oceania,” Bjork delivers another relatable song that earned her critical and commercial acclaim when it was released in 2004.

Featured on the album Medulla, it is a song that captures the beauty of the blue ocean floor with a brilliantly directed official music video.

In contrast to “Oceania,” Bjork also released the 1996 song “Play Dead,” one of the best songs about death, which was featured in the movie Young Americans.

13. “Drink The Water” – Jack Johnson

Tragedy and a near-death experience lie at the heart of “Drink the Water” by Jack Johnson, which recounts his brush with death as a professional surfer.

The lyrics explore how he nearly drowned after being hit by a large wave, with only the ocean there to witness his experience.

Jack Johnson released “Drink the Water” in 2001 on his album Brushfire Fairytales, with this particular song becoming an instant hit.

12. “Down By The River” – Neil Young

Prolific singer-songwriter Neil Young composed the song “Down by the River” when he was bedridden and delirious while staying in Topanga Canyon.

Open to multiple interpretations, it’s a song that demonstrates his mastery of folk music, with some viewing it as a metaphor for drug habits.

Over the course of his career, Neil Young released hundreds of songs but only had a single number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, “Heart of Gold.”

11. “Up On Cripple Creek” – The Band

“Up on Cripple Creek” by the Band is another folksy song written at the height of the hippy movement in the 1960s.

It was written by the band’s guitarist Robbie Robertson, with the drummer Levon Helm contributing its excellent vocals.

Additional funky elements were introduced by keyboardist Garth Hudson, making this one of the most progressive songs about water from this era.

10. “Singin’ In The Rain” – Arthur Freed

There are many iconic songs from yesteryear that use water as a theme, from “Moon River” to “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed.

This song was featured in one of the most popular musicals of all time, Singin’ in the Rain, and it remains a masterpiece to this day.

The song achieved some level of unexpected notoriety when Stanley Kubrick included it in his adaptation of the dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange.

9. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” – Otis Redding

While the Beach Boys were busy singing about surfing during the 1960s, Otis Redding was preoccupied with a different kind of water.

The song “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” is a gorgeous song about waiting patiently for the arrival of a ship to take you on the next journey in life.

“(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” was Otis Redding’s biggest hit, who sadly died in a plane crash that cut his life and career tragically short.

8. “Purple Rain” – Prince

Arguably the greatest of all his many hit songs, “Purple Rain” is a career-defining high point for the artist formerly known as Prince.

Released alongside the album and movie of the same name, this powerful song reflected Prince’s unique insights into spiritual concepts and the state of the world.

In addition to releasing this huge chart hit, Prince also released one of the best songs about birds, “When Doves Cry,” which was also featured in the movie Purple Rain.

7. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon & Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel’s track “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is as iconic a song for the duo as “Purple Rain” was for Prince.

Released as the title track for their album of the same name, it’s a sweet and melodic piece of music, with Art Garfunkel taking on the singing role.

In the years since it was released, Paul Simon has often stated his regret at not taking on the role of lead singer for “Bridge Over Troubled Water” himself.

6. “What The Water Gave Me” – Florence + The Machine

“What the Water Gave Me” is another melancholic and haunting song that uses water as a symbol of grief and suffering by Florence and the Machine.

Inspired by the Virginia Woolf novel The Lighthouse, it’s a song that dives into the murky waters of loss and dealing with the passing of someone close.

“What the Water Gave Me” was featured on the Florence and the Machine album Ceremonials, which the band released in 2011.

5. “Hold Back The River” – James Bay

James Bay brings his idiosyncratic blue bayou sound to bear on the song “Hold Back The River,” featuring his exceptional guitar skills.

The title is a direct reference to the fame Bay experienced shortly after he was spotted by the Rolling Stones, who invited him to be their supporting act.

James Bay has since gone on to enjoy a successful career, with his debut album Chaos and the Calm becoming a number-one hit in the United Kingdom.

4. “Madman Across The Water” – Elton John

Elton John, who needs no introduction, has been responsible for the best karaoke songs performed by budding vocalists worldwide.

The song “Madman Across the Water” sees him in fine form, delivering an upbeat dance song that dominated the American charts.

Its straightforward title is a reference to the madman who lives in an asylum, with the song almost equaling “Tiny Dancer” in its popularity.

3. “When The Levee Breaks” – Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin brings in historical references in their hit song “When the Levee Breaks,” which the band released in 1971.

The song’s title refers to the incident in 1927 when the Mississippi River flooded the levees, and plantation owners forced workers at gunpoint to fix them.

It’s an exceptional addition to the band’s impressive discography, with John Bonham’s driving drumming considered to be an example of some of the best drumming in modern music.

2. “Water” – The Who

The Who keeps the concept nice and simple with their song “Water,” which uses the fluid as a symbol for love and other emotions.

This song, which is as much about the daily struggles people go through in life as it is about actual water, is the perfect song for anyone feeling down in the dumps.

While “Water” wasn’t a major hit for The Who, it eventually came to wider attention in 1996 when the band released the live album Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970.

1. “Water Under The Bridge” – Adele

Last but certainly not least, we’re rounding up this playlist that explores the best songs about water with Adele’s “Water Under the Bridge.”

Adele brings her consummate professionalism to this song, with wonderful vocals combined with infectious percussion and instrumentation.

Like the best singers of her generation, such as Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake, Adele has released some of the best songs of all time, which reflect her unshakable talent.

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed this complete guide to the best songs about water. Listen to these songs and use them as food for thought when you’re compiling your next playlist.

As with the other elements in nature, water is an enduring source of inspiration for singer-songwriters and bands throughout the history of music.

With this primal force remaining an essential element in the natural world, there’s little doubt that many more artists will continue to use it both literally and symbolically in their work.

What’s the best song about water, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.