Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings fro… Read Full Bio ↴Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings from the Timmins entertainment family (Margo Timmins, vocals; Michael Timmins, songwriter & guitars; Peter Timmins, drums) plus Alan Anton on bass. The group formed in Toronto in 1986. The band's name was simply a random choice as they approached their first ever gig, but it has come to perfectly represent their sound. (Some sources may credit Townes Van Zandt's song "Cowboy Junkies Lament" as the source of the band's name, but that song was written especially for Cowboy Junkies several years after they coined the name.)

The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.

None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.

The Water Is Wide
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The water is wide, I can not cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
and both shall row, my love and I
Love is gentle and love is kind
The sweetest flower when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
and fades away like morning dew

The water is wide, I can not cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two

and both shall row, my love and I
and both shall row, my love and I

Overall Meaning

In the Cowboy Junkies' version of the traditional folk song "The Water Is Wide," the lyrics describe the obstacles the singer faces in their quest for love. The metaphor of the wide water represents the distance between the singer and their beloved, and the lack of wings to fly signifies their inability to bridge that distance. Instead, the singer implores for a boat that can carry two people, symbolizing the need for mutual effort in a relationship. The song then shifts from describing the initial sweetness of love to the realization that love can also fade away. Despite this, the singer still seeks to row alongside their love and overcome the challenges they face.

Overall, the song's lyrics communicate the universal experience of love and its complexities. It highlights the initial excitement and mutual effort required in a relationship but also acknowledges that love can be fragile and fleeting. Despite this, the singer expresses their determination to still row alongside their love, highlighting the enduring power of love and commitment.

Line by Line Meaning

The water is wide, I can not cross over
I am faced with a great obstacle that seems insurmountable.

Neither have I wings to fly
I lack the ability to overcome this obstacle alone and without assistance.

Give me a boat that can carry two
What I need is someone to help me get through this difficult time.

and both shall row, my love and I
Together we can conquer anything, and our love will be the strength that gets us through.

Love is gentle and love is kind
Though love can be an incredible force, it is also soft and nurturing.

The sweetest flower when first it's new
Love is a beautiful thing, and at first it feels like nothing else matters.

But love grows old and waxes cold
However, love can't sustain itself on its own, and if it isn't nourished and cared for, it will wither away.

and fades away like morning dew
Like the dew that disappears with the rising sun, love can disappear just as quickly.

and both shall row, my love and I
Once again, it's clear that together we can get through anything, and it's our shared love that will carry us through.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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