The Water is Wide - Traditional
Intro in D: D G Bm A // use Bm F#m)
[Chorus]
D G D G
The water is wide, I can’t cross o'er.
Bm G A G
And neither have I the wings to fly.
F#m Bm D G
Build me a boat that can carry two,
F#m A7 G D
And both shall row, my love and I.
[Verse 1]
D G D G
There is a ship and she sails the seas.
Bm G A G
She's laden deep, as deep can be;
F#m Bm D G
But not so deep as the love I'm in
F#m A7 G D Dsus4 D
And I know not if I sink or swim.
[Verse 3]
D G D G
O love is handsome and love is fine
Bm G A G
Bright as a jewel when first it's new
F#m Bm D G
but love grows old and waxes cold
F#m A7 G D Dsus4 D
And fades away like the morning dew.
F#m A7 G D Dsus4 D
And fades away like the morning dew.
[Chorus]
D G D G
The water is wide, I can’t cross o'er.
Bm G A G
And neither have I the wings to fly.
F#m Bm D G
Build me a boat that can carry two,
F#m A7 G D
And both shall row, my love and I.
TRADITIONAL LYRICS:
The water is wide, I cannot get o'er
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall cross my true love and I
I lean'd my back against an oak
Thinking it was a mighty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
So did my love prove false to me
I put my hand in some soft bush
Thinking the sweetest flow'are to find
I prick'd my finger to the bone
And left the sweetest flow'are behind
O love is handsome and love is kind
Gay as a jewel when it is new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew
The water is wide, I cannot get o'er
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall cross my true love and I
____
Pete Seeger's lyrics (slightly edited):
The water is wide, I cannot get over
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
originally:
There is a ship and she sails the sea A ship there is and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim And I know not how I sink or swim
I leaned my back up against an oak I leaned my back up against some young oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree Thinking he was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke But first he bended and then he broke
So did my love prove false to me And thus did my false love to me
I reached my finger into some soft bush I put my hand into some soft bush
Thinking the fairest flower to find
Thinking the sweetest flower to findAnd neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
originally:
There is a ship and she sails the sea A ship there is and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim And I know not how I sink or swim
I leaned my back up against an oak I leaned my back up against some young oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree Thinking he was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke But first he bended and then he broke
So did my love prove false to me And thus did my false love to me
I reached my finger into some soft bush I put my hand into some soft bush
I pricked my finger to the bone
And left the fairest flower behind And left the sweetest flower alone
Oh love be handsome and love be kind Oh, love is handsome and love is fine
Gay as a jewel when first it is new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew And fades away like summer dew
The water is wide, I cannot get over
And neither have I wings to fly
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
music in Pete Seeger American Ballads:
Here's a detailed article on the history of the song: The Water Is Wide: The History of a Folksong,
and from article, the first example, a simple version:
other versions: mudcat
The Water Is Wide The Holohan Sisters Irish Folk - YouTube
Peter Yarrow - The Water is Wide - YouTube (originally of Peter, Paul and Mary)
Carolyn Hester - The Water is Wide - 1961 - YouTube
The Water Is Wide - Dylan version, 1975
"The Water Is Wide" - The History of a "Folk Song"
