"Tom Bowling" is a famous song composed by Charles Dibdin for his opera "The Oddities" in 1789. It is a sentimental ballad about a sailor, Tom Bowling, who dies at sea. The character was based on Dibdin's older brother, Thomas, a naval captain who died in service. The song became an iconic representation of the maritime tradition and is noted for its moving melody and heartfelt lyrics, capturing the spirit and perils of a sailor's life in the late 18th century.