The Water is Wide

This song became popular in America after Pete Seeger introduced it in 1958.  It tells the story of false love.  The song has been claimed not only by Americans, but by the English, Scottish, and Irish as well.  The modern lyrics were consolidated from several versions, and then the song was named The Water is Wide by Cecil Sharp in 1906.  Watch the YouTube video in"Harp Demo" on the lower right of the screen!

  The words are as follows:

The water is wide, I can-not cross o'er.

And neither have I wings to fly.

give me a boat that can carry two,

And both shall row, my love and I.

A ship there is and she sails the seas.

She's laden deep, as deep can be;

But not as deep as the love I'm in

And I know not if I sink or swim.

I leaned my back up against an oak

Thinking it were a trusty tree

but first it bended and then it broke

Thus did my love prove false to me.

O love is sweet and love is kind

The sweetest flow'r when first it's new

but love grows old and waxes cold

And fades away like the morning dew.