Water is Wide
Indigo Girls Jewel & Sarah McLachlan Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

The song, "Water is Wide," describes the struggles of a person unable to bridge the gap between themselves and their true love, because the waters are too wide to cross and they do not have wings to fly. The song is known for its poignant and reflective lyrics that reveal the complexities of love and its unpredictable nature. The singer in the song desires a boat that can carry two, so that they and their true love can cross the water and reunite.


In the second stanza, the singer leans against an oak, thinking that it was a mighty tree, but ultimately, it broke. This metaphor represents the betrayal they feel from their true love. The singer tries to distract themselves by picking flowers but hurts themselves, leaving the sweetest flower behind. This represents the idea that love is initially sweet and beautiful but it can also be painful - for instance, it can lead one to hurt themselves trying to hold on to something that has already passed.


The final stanza depicts the singer's realization that love is not eternal, but rather it fades away over time. Yet, they still long to cross the water and reunite with their true love. The song ultimately evokes a sense of longing, heartache, and desire for what appears to be an impossible union.


Line by Line Meaning

The water is wide, I cannot get o'er
The obstacle in my way is too great for me to overcome alone.


Neither have I wings to fly
I lack the ability to simply bypass the obstacle and reach my goal.


Give me a boat that can carry two
I am willing to seek help from another to overcome the obstacle.


And both shall cross my true love and I
By working together with someone I love, we will both overcome the obstacle.


I lean'd my back against an oak
I trusted in something strong and unyielding.


Thinking it was a mighty tree
I believed that this source of strength would never let me down.


But first it bent and then it broke
However, in the end it proved to be untrustworthy and failed me.


So did my love prove false to me
Just like this untrustworthy oak, my love also let me down.


I put my hand in some soft bush
I sought comfort in something that appeared soft and inviting.


Thinking the sweetest flow'are to find
Believing that I would find something beautiful and worthwhile.


I prick'd my finger to the bone
But in the end, my search led to pain and suffering.


And left the sweetest flow'are behind
And I was left with nothing but the memory of what could have been.


O love is handsome and love is kind
At first glance, love can be alluring and benevolent.


Gay as a jewel when it is new
Shining and sparkling, full of promise and hope.


But love grows old and waxes cold
However, over time love can lose its luster and passion.


And fades away like the morning dew
And eventually, it can disappear completely, leaving nothing but the emptiness of a new day.


The water is wide, I cannot get o'er
Despite the hardships and disappointments that come with love, the obstacle remains, and it is up to me to find a way to overcome it.


Neither have I wings to fly
But through determination, patience, and the help of those I love, I can find a way to reach my goals.


Give me a boat that can carry two
And when I do, I will be able to share that victory with someone special.


And both shall cross my true love and I
Together we will overcome, and together we will find happiness.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN-PAUL CABRIERES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ludwigdietsch

Perfect voices from perfect ladies...

@annesmith7548

Beautiful.

@johnvuottoguitarist8716

This was a complete mess, besides the noodly guitar work. Jewels over and ultra vibrato voice is annoying

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