The Water Is Wide
Elin Gaustad Lyrics
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Neither have I, the wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two and both shall row
My love and I
Now love is gentle
And love is kind
The sweetest flower
When first it's new
and fades away like mornin' dew
There is a ship she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I'm in
I know not how I sink or swim
The water is wide I can't cross over
Neither have I the 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
In Elin Gaustad's rendition of the traditional folk song, "The Water Is Wide," the singer expresses the sadness of being separated from a loved one. In the opening lines, the singer is faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge; the water is too wide to cross, and they lack the ability to fly. However, they cling to the idea of love as a boat that can navigate the obstacles that life throws their way. The imagery of the boat that can 'carry two' is symbolic of the idea that love is a partnership that takes two people to be successful. The singer laments the transient nature of love, which 'grows old and waxes cold' over time.
Line by Line Meaning
The water is wide, I can't cross over
The ocean is vast, and I am not strong enough to cross it.
Neither have I, the wings to fly
I lack the ability to soar through the air to reach my destination.
Give me a boat that can carry two and both shall row
Provide me with a vessel that has the capacity for two people to propel it forward together.
My love and I
My beloved companion and I will embark on this journey.
Now love is gentle
Love is a tender emotion.
And love is kind
It is a compassionate and benevolent feeling.
The sweetest flower
Love is often compared to a beautiful blossom.
When first it's new
When it is newly discovered or nurtured, love is at its most delightful.
But love grows old and waxes cold
Over time, love can lose its fervor and become distant or indifferent.
and fades away like mornin' dew
Love can dissipate and disappear as easily as a dewdrop evaporating in the morning sun.
There is a ship she sails the sea
A vessel travels the vast ocean.
She's loaded deep as deep can be
The ship is fully laden with goods or passengers.
But not as deep as the love I'm in
Despite the ship's weight, it does not compare to the depth of emotions I experience for my beloved.
I know not how I sink or swim
I am unsure of whether I will succeed or fail in navigating the obstacles before me.
And both shall row my love and I
Together we will work to propel ourselves forward towards our shared goal.
Contributed by Juliana O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marie Hodson
Absolutely Beautiful.. has Kurt got a Country Album ??? I want one if he has !!! What an oustanding vocalist !!!
MusicMakesMe Happy
Heavenly!
Wolfgang Muller
He plays a righthanded guitar as a lefty, like Hendrix, amazing
eloiziq
Kurt is my favorite singer! :)))))
coco puye
wonderful!
Hilde Liane
veldig bra:)
Robinhund
if i'm not mistaken this song is actually called Carrickfergus, which is an Irish folksong. The Water is Wide must either be a new title, or I'm wrong.
amcw
@redrusty5962 Yes he does. It's called "Rise To the Occasion" and includes a duet, Lost Highway with Willie Nelson :)
Marie Hodson
thanks for the info on the country album.. im gonna head to I tunes and get it.. Cheers marie
minea900
good!