Saltwater (Julian Lennon song)

"Saltwater" is a song by English singer-songwriter Julian Lennon. It was written by Lennon, Mark Spiro, and Leslie Spiro. Originally released on Lennon's fourth album, Help Yourself (1991), the single was released in August 1991 by Virgin Records. It peaked at number six in the United Kingdom in October 1991 and topped the Australian ARIA Singles Chart for four weeks in March 1992. "Saltwater" was the 14th-highest-selling single of 1992 in Australia, where it is certified platinum.

"Saltwater"
Single by Julian Lennon
from the album Help Yourself
B-side	"Rebel King" "Cre que voy a llorar" "Mother Mary"
Released	12 August 1991 (1991-08-12)
Length	3:46
Label	Virgin (UK) Atlantic (US)
Songwriter(s)	Julian Lennon Mark Spiro Leslie Spiro
Producer(s)	Bob Ezrin
Julian Lennon singles chronology
"You're the One" (1989) "Saltwater" (1991) "Help Yourself" (1991)
Music video
"Saltwater" (1991) on YouTube "Saltwater 25" on YouTube

In 2016, Lennon rerecorded the song as "Saltwater 25" on 14 December 2016 saying that a proportion of the proceeds would go to The White Feather Foundation.^[1]

Background

Unlike most of Lennon's previous songs, "Saltwater" combines subtle melodies with gentle vocals to bring forward the issues of environmental conservation and world poverty. The lyrics juxtapose the many marvels and feats of human civilisation with the death of the natural world, constantly emphasising the passing of time — "Time is not a friend, 'cos friends we're out of time".

The recording features a lead guitar solo in the style of George Harrison. Lennon originally wrote a guitar solo for the song. At the suggestion of his producer Bob Ezrin, he then contacted Harrison to play the solo instead. Harrison was busy at the time consoling Eric Clapton whose son had recently died. He recorded a couple of riffs and sent them back to Lennon. Guitar player Steve Hunter then played the actual solo on the song, combining elements of both Lennon's and Harrison's solos. In the liner notes for the Help Yourself album, Harrison is given special thanks.

Track listings

CD single^[2] "Saltwater" – 3:46 "Rebel King" – 4:30 "Cre que voy a llorar" – 4:07 "Mother Mary" – 4:53 12-inch single^[3] A1. "Saltwater" – 4:07 B1. "Rebel King" (edit) – 4:30 B2. "Creo que voy a llorar" – 4:07 7-inch and cassette single^[4]^[5] A. "Saltwater" – 3:46 B. "Rebel King" (edit) – 4:30

Australian CD and cassette EP^[6]^[7] "Saltwater" "Now You're in Heaven" "Too Late for Goodbyes" "Say You're Wrong" "Rebel King" (edit) Japanese mini-CD single^[8] "Saltwater" "Mother Mary"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[9] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[10] 18 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[11] 98 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12] 9 Germany (Official German Charts)^[13] 58 Ireland (IRMA)^[14] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[15] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16] 15 UK Singles (OCC)^[17] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Europe (European Hit Radio)^[18] 40 UK Singles (OCC)^[19] 41 Chart (1992) Position Australia (ARIA)^[20] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[20]	Platinum	70,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	12 August 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	Virgin	^[21]
Japan	21 September 1991	Mini-CD		^[22]

Covers

An instrumental version of this song was recorded by Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel on their album The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World. Anni-Frid Lyngstad from ABBA performed the song at the open-air gala concert "Artister för Miljö"^[23] and included her cover as a B-side on her single "Änglamark".

In 2023 Lennon's White Feather Foundation teamed up with Future Youth Records to record a cover version of 'Saltwater' featuring youth artists Sereena, Jenna Marie, Tausha and Hadron Sounds. The proceeds were split equally, with The White Feather Foundation's share going directly to the Save the Mirning Sea Country Campaign to help preserve critical biodiversity and protect a sacred Aboriginal culture and Future Youth Records' proceeds being used to support Gen Z artists to inspire environmental change and social justice through music.

References

1. "Saltwater 25 Released". Julian Lennon. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
2. Saltwater (UK CD single disc notes). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VSCDT 1361, 664 639.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. Saltwater (UK & European 12-inch single vinyl disc). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VST 1361, 614 639.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Saltwater (UK & European 7-inch single sleeve). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VS 1361, 114 639.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Saltwater (UK cassette single sleeve). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VSC 1361.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Saltwater (Australian CD EP liner notes). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VOZCD 130.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Saltwater (Australian cassette EP sleeve). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VOZC 130.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Saltwater (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Julian Lennon. Virgin Records. 1991. VJDP-10176.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. "Julian Lennon – Saltwater". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
10. "Julian Lennon – Saltwater" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1690." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 43. 26 October 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
13. "Julian Lennon – Saltwater" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Saltwater". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
16. "Julian Lennon – Saltwater" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
18. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
19. "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England. 11 January 1992. p. 20.
20. "1992 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
21. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 August 1991. p. 19. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
22. "ソルト・ウォーター | ジュリアン・レノン" [Saltwater | Julian Lennon] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
23. Oldham, A, Calder, T & Irvin, C: "ABBA: The Name of the Game", p. 217. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1995