Sail On

With the Commodores, Lionel Richie wrote some very sweet-sounding songs that tell very sad stories - "Easy" and "Still" for example. "Sail On" is another. It's a moving song about a man realizes his marriage is never going to work, and he's tired of trying. He has decided to end it as painlessly as possible and re-claim his life. These songs weren't personal. Richie was married at the time and didn't get divorced until 1993.

The Commodores were at the peak of their powers around this time, with a run of hits that included their international smash "Three Times A Lady." "Sail On" was the lead single from their Midnight Magic album, a million-seller. It was a solid hit, but the next single, "Still" went to #1. The group kept the momentum going in the '80s but fell off when Lionel Richie left the group in 1982. Richie was a primary vocalist in the group, but it was his songwriting they couldn't replace. He went on to have an even more successful solo career.