There are multiple artists with this name:
1. A German composer
2. A … Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1. A German composer
2. A British pop singer

1. Engelbert Humperdinck (German pronunciation: [ˈɛŋl̩bɛʁt ˈhʊmpɐdɪŋk]) (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

2. Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey; 2 May 1936) is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)" and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" ("The Last Waltz with You").
Humperdinck represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

Red sails in the sunset
Engelbert Humperdinck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me
She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue
Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you

Swift wings you must borrow
Make straight for the shore
We marry tomorrow

And she goes sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Swift wings you must borrow
Make straight for the shore
We marry tomorrow
And she goes sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset
Way out on the sea (ooh-wee-ooh, wee-ooh)

Oh, carry my loved one
Home safely to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Red Sails in the Sunset” tell the story of a lover who has bid farewell to his beloved as she sets sail for an unknown destination. The song sets a melancholy tone as the lover is lost in his thoughts, wishing for his loved one’s safe return home. As he watches the red sails disappear in the horizon, he calls upon the winds to carry her safely back to him.

In the second verse, the lover calls on the winds again, this time asking for swiftness to bring her back to him before they get married the following day. He is desperate at the thought of losing her forever, and the red sails have become his only hope for her return.

The final verse echoes the beginning of the song, with the lover still fixated on the red sails in the sunset. The song’s simple melody and poignant lyrics express a longing for a loved one, and the uncertainty of the future. “Red Sails in the Sunset” is a hauntingly beautiful song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of longing for someone they love.

Line by Line Meaning

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea
The red sails are visible from afar, out in the ocean where my loved one is, carrying them towards me.

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me
I implore the boat carrying my significant other to safely bring them back to me, unharmed.

She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue
My loved one departed at sunrise, and I've been feeling down and lonely since their departure.

Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you
Seeing the red sails in the evening sky gives me hope and trust that my loved one is on their way back to me.

Swift wings you must borrow
I urge the boat to hurry as quick as possible by borrowing swift wings to get back here sooner.

Make straight for the shore
I instruct the boat to head directly towards the shore, without any delay or deviation.

We marry tomorrow
Tomorrow is the day of our wedding, and I am eagerly waiting for my bride to return.

And she goes sailing no more
Once my loved one returns, she won't be sailing anymore because she will have started a new life on the shore with me.

Way out on the sea (ooh-wee-ooh, wee-ooh)
I can barely see the boat with the red sails out in the vast expanse of the ocean.

Oh, carry my loved one
I plead with the boat to carry my significant other safely back to me.

Home safely to me
My only worry is for my loved one's safe return, to be with me at our home, where we belong.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hugh Williams, James Kennedy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS