The Water Is Wide
Shelley Philips and Friends Lyrics
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I cannot cross over
And neither have i wings to fly
Build me a boat that will 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
Deep river
My home is over jordan
Deep river, lord
I want to cross over into campground
Deep river
My home is over jordan
Deep river, lord
I want to cross over into campground
Oh, don't you want to go
To that gospel feast
That promised land,
Where all is peace
Deep river, lord
I want to cross over into campground
The water is wide
I cannot cross over
And neither have i wings to fly
Build me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row
My love and i
And both shall row
My love and i
The lyrics to Shelley Philips and Friends' song "The Water Is Wide" depict a sense of longing and a desire to transcend the barriers that prevent the singer from being with their loved one. The repeated line "The water is wide, I cannot cross over" serves as a metaphor for the obstacles that stand in the way of the singer's desires. They do not have wings to fly over these obstacles, but they ask for a boat that will carry two - a symbol of the partnership and connection they share with their loved one, and the shared effort required to overcome the obstacles in their path.
The second stanza introduces the character of a ship sailing the sea, which is loaded deep with cargo, yet not as deep as the love that the singer feels, which is so intense that they do not know whether they will sink or swim. This again highlights the theme of obstacles and the unpredictability of their journey, with the river serving as a symbol of the singer's journey towards their desired destination - the campground.
The final stanza offers and invitation to join the gospel feast in the promised land, which is a metaphor for the ultimate goal or destination that the singer is striving towards. The repetition of "Deep river, lord, I want to cross over into campground" provides a sense of determination, and the final lines of the song reinforce the idea of partnership, as both individuals row their boat across the river towards their shared goal.
Line by Line Meaning
The water is wide
The body of water in front of me is vast and difficult to cross.
I cannot cross over
I don't have the means or ability to cross the water myself.
And neither have I wings to fly
I can't fly across either and am thus stuck on this side of the water.
Build me a boat that will carry two
Please help me build a boat that can carry two people across.
And both shall row
Both people in the boat will be responsible for rowing it across the water.
My love and I
My romantic partner and I will be the ones crossing the water in the boat.
There is a ship
There is a large vessel capable of sailing on the water.
And she sails the sea
This ship regularly sails on the sea, probably with goods or passengers on board.
She's loaded deep, as deep can be
The ship is carrying a heavy load, possibly to the point of being overloaded.
But not so deep as the love I'm in
Despite the heavy load on the ship, it's not as deep as the love I feel.
I know not how I sink or swim
I don't know how I'll fare in the water, whether I'll sink or swim.
Deep river
This river is especially wide, daunting, and difficult to cross.
My home is over Jordan
The other side of the river is where I consider my home.
Deep river, Lord
I pray that the Lord helps me navigate this deep river safely.
I want to cross over into campground
I want to make it to the other side of the river and reach my intended destination.
Oh, don't you want to go
Wouldn't you also like to come with me?
To that gospel feast
To that spiritual gathering where everyone is welcome.
That promised land, where all is peace
That place where we'll finally be at peace and our dreams come true.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@lovineveryminuetofit1314
Yes, just not a fan of yours 🤷♀️
@voyager202000
Still regarded as the most class act of not only kindness, but selflessness ever shown when most people would win at all costs, she wanted to share the wealth with everyone! If we only had a few more million like Nura on the planet!
@CuriousGoodsJessica
That woman deserves immense respect for being not only a veteran but also being incredibly kind hearted and considerate! Why isn't this great stuff publicized more, instead of all the hateful things that happen?
@tomunderwood238
Socialist activity reported.....gpod, sometimes we need it.
@APickleForAPea
A people divided are a people conquered. 🙏💞✌️
@maryclay2882
Because the world feeds off negativity. She truly has a good heart. I Salute her. ❤️❤️❤️
@runewolf77
Because people want to hear bad news! ☹
@HerculesRockefellerESQ
@@runewolf77 yup. Good news doesn't sell newspapers/get ratings
@HoodedChaosProductions
Nura just makes my heart melt for making a intensional fool of herself on TV, but for a reason to help the other contestants. That is true patriotism and kindness.