> Folk Music > Songs > The Swimming Song

The Swimming Song

[ Roud - ; DT SWIMMIN ; Loudon Wainwright III]

Sorry, I can't show the lyrics here as I don't have the copyright owners' permission to publish them. But please feel free and ask me to send you the song's lyrics.

Loudon Wainwright III sang his own The Swimming Song on a 1973 Columbia single. A 1979 Cambridge Folk Festival live recording was included in 1998 on the CD The Best of the Cambridge Folk Festival.

Bandoggs sang Swimming Song in a BBC Radio 1 John Peel Session that was recorded on 14 December 1977 and first broadcast on 13 January 1978. And Nic Jones sang it solo in a “Folk on 2” session recorded on 1 March 1981. This recording was also included in 1998 on his CD In Search of Nic Jones.

Maddy Prior sang Swimming Song in 1993 on her Park album Year.

Fairport Convention sang The Swimming Song in 1996 on their Woodworm album Old · New · Borrowed · Blue. A live recording from Cropredy 1998 was included in 2004 on their Free Reed anthology Cropredy Capers.

Roger Wilson sang The Swimming Song in 1997 on Pete Morton’s, his and Simon Edwards’ Harbourtown album Urban Folk Vol. II. He noted:

The Swimming Song was written by Loudon Wainwright III, and performed both by The McGarrigle Sisters and Nie Jones. I’m a big fan of all four of these people, and this is a jolly ditty if ever there was one.

The Demon Barbers sang Swimming Song on their 2015 album Disco at the Tavern.

Will Finn and Rosie Calvert sang Swimming Song on their 2024 album Fallow Alchemy. They noted:

Rosie is an avid outdoor swimmer, and this whimsical song perfectly reflects the joy felt in a good summersworth of swimming! Originally by Loudon Wainwright III, our version also takes inspiration from Kate and Anna McGarrigle. The tune that we play to accompany was co-written with our Teacups bandmate Alex Cumming after he heard us practising and asked to join in.