The Water Is Wide
Eriksen 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
There is a ship and she sails the sea
She’s loaded deep as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I’m in
I leaned my back against an oak
Thinkin’ it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just as my love proved false to me
Oh 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 the mornin’ dew
The Water Is Wide is a traditional folk song, which dates back to the 1600s, with several versions existing in the public domain. Sung by many artists over the years, the opening two lines "The water is wide I can't cross over, neither have I the wings to fly" evoke a sense of unrequited love and the inability to transcend the obstacle that stands between two lovers. The singer is trapped, stranded by the water's edge, unable to cross to be reunited with their love. The water is a metaphor for the distance between the two people in love, too wide to cross, too deep to swim across, and too vast to fly over. The singer pleads for a boat that can carry two, suggesting they are willing to share the burden of the journey and work together.
In the next verse, the ship that sails the sea is used as another metaphor for love. The ship is loaded deep, implying the depth of their affection, but it's not as deep as the singer's love. They don't know if they'll sink or swim, suggesting the risk of embracing love is uncertain. The following verse tells of the singer leaning against an oak, a symbol of strength and dependability, whilst their love proves false. This illustrates the fleeting nature of love; once beautiful and strong, but now broken and powerless, much like the broken trust.
The final verse speaks to the ebb and flow of love. "Love is gentle and love is kind, the sweetest flower when first it's new," is a universal truth that love is wonderful when new, but it doesn’t always last. As love grows old, it waxes cold, and fades away like the morning dew. There is no escaping the fact that love often fades, despite how passionately we might have felt for it in the beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
The water is wide I can’t cross over
The river is too vast for me to traverse.
Neither have I the wings to fly
I don't have the power to soar over it either.
Give me a boat that can carry two
If you provide me with a suitable vessel for two, that could help.
And both shall row my love and I
Both of us can row the vessel across the river with you.
There is a ship and she sails the sea
A ship is currently navigating the high seas.
She’s loaded deep as deep can be
The ship is heavily laden with cargo.
But not as deep as the love I’m in
But it still pales in comparison to the depth of love that I feel.
I know not if I sink or swim
I am uncertain if I will sink or swim in love.
I leaned my back against an oak
I used to place trust in the steadfastness of an oak tree.
Thinkin’ it was a trusty tree
Believing it to be sturdy and reliable.
But first it bent and then it broke
However, it eventually gave way under the pressure.
Just as my love proved false to me
Similar to how my lover betrayed me.
Oh love is gentle and love is kind
At its core, love is tender and benevolent.
The sweetest flower when first it’s new
Initially, love is like a beautiful, fragrant blossom.
But love grows old and waxes cold
Over time, love can become stale and icy.
and fades away like the mornin’ dew
Until it ultimately disappears, much like the morning dew.
Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RonjaGM
Lyrics:
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
There is a ship and 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 if I sink or swim
I leaned my back against an oak
Thinkin’ it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just as my love proved false to me
Oh 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 the mornin’ dew
Låtskrivere: Jean-Paul Cabrieres
@RonjaGM
Lyrics:
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
There is a ship and 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 if I sink or swim
I leaned my back against an oak
Thinkin’ it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just as my love proved false to me
Oh 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 the mornin’ dew
Låtskrivere: Jean-Paul Cabrieres
@beatricemugesani3706
Love proved never gets old.only yanger trust me i no♥️☺
@runsaep9673
Takk for sang-teksten ! Runar S. Stavanger
@runsaep9673
Kjenner du til flere vakre melodier a la denne ? Runar, Norway, Stavanger
@RonjaGM
@@runsaep9673 Rita har mange fine låter, prøv denne:
https://youtu.be/3iZBcmuFD60
@sissine68
Sublimes paroles, merci.
@runsaep9673
absolutely the best !. Runar, Norway
@sissine68
Très beau paysage belle 📹 et jolie chanson, juste magnifique. Merci 👌 👍
@dennisgallagher
The very best version of a really great song.
@alanlaws2668
I always liked the James Taylor version, but this one is an absolute knockout! Thanks for posting it