Gorka was born in Edison, New Jersey. He received his first guitar as a Christmas gift, though Gorka alleges that his older brother stole it from him shortly thereafter. He eventually learned, instead, to play the banjo, and began performing in a folk music group at his church.
Gorka attended Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and joined the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band which would also include guitarist Richard Shindell. He later began performing solo at the Godfrey Daniels coffee house as the opening act for various musicians that toured there. These included Nanci Griffith, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt and Jack Hardy.
In 1984, Gorka took first place at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Since then he has toured with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Michael Manring, Christine Lavin, Dave Van Ronk, Cliff Eberhardt, David Massengill, Frank Christian and Lucy Kaplansky.
As of 2005, he was residing in the St. Croix Valley area near Saint Paul, Minnesota.
In 2008, Gorka decided to return to Europe for the first time in fourteen years. In October that year, he played four times in the Netherlands, he played live on VPRO radio and he did a session for the John Gorka video site.
In 2009, Gorka toured in the USA and also in Ireland and the Netherlands. In October that year, Red House Records released the CD "So Dark You See". This is considered a more intimate, vocal and guitar-centered record than the last two albums.
The Water Is Wide
John Gorka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't cross over,
And neither have I wings to fly.
Build me a boat
That can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I.
There is a ship
She's loaded deep,
As deep can be.
But not so deep
As the love I'm in,
I know not how I sink or swim.
Oh love is handsome
And love is fine,
The sweetest flower
When first it's new.
But love grows old
And waxes cold
And fades away like Summer dew.
Build me a boat
That can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I,
And both shall row, my love and I.
"The Water is Wide" is a traditional folk song that has been recorded by numerous artists, but John Gorka's version is one of the most moving. The lyrics describe the singer's inability to cross the water without the help of a boat or wings. However, the urgency in his voice indicates that the crossing of the water is not just a practical concern, but a metaphor for a deeper emotional struggle. The singer wants to be with his love, but can't do so without help.
As the song progresses, we learn that the singer is in love but unsure of whether his love will be returned. The singer sees a ship sailing and recognizes the depth of his own love compared to the cargo on the ship. He is willing to risk everything to pursue it, but he knows that love can be fleeting and temporary.
Despite the uncertainty and vulnerability, the singer makes a request for a boat that can carry two, an invitation to his love to join him on this journey. He wants to row together, through any uncertainty or doubt. The repetition of "and both shall row, my love and I" reinforces the importance of mutual effort and support in a healthy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The water is wide,
The river is so wide that I cannot cross it on my own.
I can't cross over,
I do not possess the capability to cross the river under my own strength.
And neither have I wings to fly.
I am not a bird and therefore cannot fly over the swollen river.
Build me a boat
Please make me a vessel that can transport myself and my love across the river.
That can carry two
I request that the boat you create has enough capacity for both myself and my beloved.
And both shall row, my love and I.
We will use our combined efforts to row the boat across the river to the other side.
There is a ship
There exists a large boat that travels across the sea.
And she sails the sea.
The ship journeys across the ocean.
She's loaded deep,
The ship is heavily laden with cargo.
As deep can be.
The vessel has been loaded to capacity.
But not so deep
Despite being full, the ship still has less weight than the love I feel.
As the love I'm in,
I am in a deep state of love that surpasses even the fullness of the ship.
I know not how I sink or swim.
My love is powerful enough to cause me to feel like I may drown or triumph, but I cannot predict the outcome.
Oh love is handsome
Love is like a beautiful person that catches the eye and captivates the soul.
And love is fine,
Love is a refined feeling that elevates one's emotional state.
The sweetest flower
Love is like a flower that has an alluring scent and is pleasing to the senses.
When first it's new.
Love is most exciting in its earliest days, like a newly bloomed flower that is full of promise.
But love grows old
As love matures, it may lose the excitement or freshness that it once had.
And waxes cold
Love can cool over time and lose its warmth and passion.
And fades away like Summer dew.
Love can disappear quickly and quietly, like mist that disappears at sunrise when the sun becomes too hot.
And both shall row, my love and I,
We will work together as a team to overcome any challenges that we may encounter.
And both shall row, my love and I.
Our combined love and effort will allow us to cross the river together.
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davepmolloy
The sign of a master artist....does a cover and it makes it sound like he wrote ..Bravo x
@songsparrowadventures
Beautiful
@Yrksman
Love this
@ChristeneLedoux
So beautiful. Thank you for your gifts. Still listening...❤️
@bettysmits9471
That song was played at my husband's funeral. A friend rewrote the words to say "I'll wait, my love, for thee"
@johngorka6572
Thank you Betty. Peace to you - JG
@majorgeneralghassemsoleima3304
God rest his soul 🙏🏼
@janelandry6584
Love, love, love how John sings this.
@peggylynch7356
I first heard you sing this years ago in Newtown, CT. It remains a favorite. Thank you!
@jimthumerzs2301
One of my favs. Thank you John. I've drown in that water a few times myself.