It was in 1963 that three neighbouring children from a quiet working-class Dublin suburb, Inchicore, brothers Brian and Derek and a pal Noel Nagle started playing round the fleadhs of Ireland more for fun than anything else. They used to get together at weekends playing Fleadh cheoils or music festivals, mainly as a pastime. Thoughts of fame and riches were a world away.
Brian and Noel had taken tin whistle lessons at the Pipers Club in Thomas Street in Dublin, while Derek took up the mandolin for no better reason than his father played it. During the summer of 1963 the four of them had hitch-hiked across Ireland, from Dublin to Kerry, for a weekend at a Fleadh Ceoil, an annual gathering of traditional Irish musicians where there's lashings of drink and non-stop music. The lads were really there for the beer although they did play and sing, but only for their own amusement.
Brian Warfield recalls what happened next: "I remember arriving in Killarney fairly late at night and looking around for somewhere to bed down. It was two o'clock in the morning as we trooped through the streets of the town and probably, because we had a few drinks in us, we started to play and sing. It was August and there were still some people on the streets. A few of them gathered around us as we sang and after a dozen tunes a fella with an American accent came up and asked us if we knew some song or other. We knew it - and played it for him."
In 2002 Derek Warfield left the group to pursue a solo career but the rump of The Wolfe Tones still tour constantly, usually appearing at small function halls. However, 2004 was their last tour year doing that. They continue to tour as a three-piece band comprising Brian Warfield, Noel Nagle and Tommy Byrne.
The well-known rebel song, "Celtic Symphony" was written by Brian Warfield in 1987 for the 100th anniversary of Celtic Football Club. It has been covered by countless bands around the world. Other famous songs written by the group include Joe McDonnell, a song about the life and death of the IRA Volunteer who was the 5th person to die on the 1981 Hunger Strike, which is also said to be their most popular stage song.
The Water Is Wide
The Wolfe Tones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 and she sails the sea
She sails so deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I leaned my back against an oak
Thinking it was the strongest tree
But first it bended and then it broke
And that's the way love treated me
For love is handsome and love is fine
Gay as a jewel when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like morning dew
The water is deep I can't swim o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Build me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row my love and I
The Wolfe Tones's rendition of "The Water Is Wide" is a hauntingly beautiful song that articulates a love that is both exhilarating and challenging. The singer of the song is in love with someone, but the obstacles to their love seem too insurmountable. First, the water is too deep for him to swim over, and he doesn't have wings to fly. But his solution is simple: "Build me a boat that will carry two, and both shall row my love and I." With this, he imagines a world where they can cross the water together to be together.
As the song progresses, we hear more about the nature of the love that he feels. He notes that there is a ship that sails the sea, but it is not as deep as the love he is in. He recognizes that he could sink or swim and doesn't seem to know which way it will go. He continues to use imagery to describe his love, noting that he leaned against an oak thinking it was strong only to find it bend and break. This echoes his own experience with love, which can be both strong and fragile.
Finally, the singer reflects on the nature of love itself, noting that it is "handsome" and "fine" when it's new but that it can grow old, wax cold, and fade away like morning dew. Ultimately, though, he returns to his original request: "The water is deep I can't swim o'er, and neither have I wings to fly. Build me a boat that will carry two, and both shall row my love and I." This repeated refrain emphasizes the deep longing the singer feels to be with his love.
Overall, "The Water Is Wide" is a poignant love song that addresses both the beauty and challenges of love. The imagery and metaphorical language used throughout the song add to the sense of longing and desire in the singer's voice.
Line by Line Meaning
The water is deep I can't swim o'er
I am faced with a difficult obstacle that I cannot overcome
And neither have I wings to fly
I do not have the means to escape my troubles
Build me a boat that will carry two
I am seeking help from someone who can support me in my struggles
And both shall row my love and I
Together with my loved one, we can face any challenges and overcome them
There is a ship and she sails the sea
There are others out there who are navigating the challenges that life presents
She sails so deep as deep can be
Those others may be dealing with obstacles even more difficult than mine
But not so deep as the love I'm in
Despite all the obstacles, my love for my partner is the strongest force in my life
And I know not how I'll sink or swim
I am uncertain of how I will fare in the face of the challenges ahead
I leaned my back against an oak
I once thought I had found something that would support me through anything
Thinking it was the strongest tree
But in the end, that support proved to be unreliable
But first it bended and then it broke
Leaning on that support caused me pain and disappointment
And that's the way love treated me
This experience taught me that love can be fickle and unreliable, just like the oak I leaned on
For love is handsome and love is fine
Love can be beautiful and alluring when it is new and fresh
Gay as a jewel when first it's new
But that beauty fades over time as love becomes more familiar and routine
But love grows old and waxes cold
Love can lose its passion and intensity as time goes on
And fades away like morning dew
Eventually, love may disappear completely, just like the dew disappears with the rising sun
The water is deep I can't swim o'er
Once again, I am faced with an obstacle that I cannot overcome alone
And neither have I wings to fly
And once again, I find myself without the means to escape my troubles
Build me a boat that will carry two
But I have faith that with the help of my loved one, we can overcome anything together
And both shall row my love and I
We will work together to navigate these troubled waters and come out stronger on the other side
Writer(s): PETER SEEGER, TRADITIONAL
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gbkw51
A beautiful song wonderfully performed. One of the best versions ever.
@eddiequinlan3897
Takes me back in time. Listening to Tommy helped me craft my own singing ability
@nevermore7046
Surely the most purely romantic song ever written. Beautifully sung by Tommy.
@kenmcdaid4014
Greatest Ballad group of all time no contest Ken
@coletteconroy
Tommy Byrne !!! What an amazing singer, my fav of all time :D :))))
@johnsharkey9905
Tommy s an amazing singer,
@franckrene-
and a true artist !
@stephenkidd6061
My fav wolfe tones song.
@lindab6797
Love this song but very emotional as I got it played at my mums funeral so hard to listen to but yeah Tommy is grand
@shazcat23
I LOVE this version .Thanks for posting it X