WATER
W.J. VanRanch Lyrics


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The water is wide, I cannot get over
And nor do I, have wings to fly
Give me a boat, that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
Oh love is handsome, and love is fine
Bright as a jewel, when it's first new
But love grows old, and waxes cold
And fades away, like morning dew
There is a ship, that sails the sea
She's loaded deep, as deep can be
But not so deep, as the love I need
I know not if, I sink or swim
The water is wide, I cannot get over
And nor do I, have wings to fly
Give me a boat, that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
The water is wide, I cannot get over
And nor do I, have wings to fly
Give me a boat, that can carry two




And both shall row, my love and I
And both shall row, my love and I

Overall Meaning

The song "The Water is Wide" is an old traditional Scottish folk song, also known as "O Waly, Waly". It has been covered by many artists, including W.J. VanRanch who made it a hit in the 1970s. The song speaks of the challenges of love and the journey one must undertake to find true love.


The opening lines "The water is wide, I cannot get over, and nor do I have wings to fly" refer to the vastness of the ocean as a metaphor for the difficulties in finding love. The singer is seeking a way to cross over to the other side (a metaphor for finding love) but cannot do so. He asks for a boat that can carry two so that he can travel with his loved one.


The singer reflects that love is beautiful and amazing when it's new, but it eventually fades away with time. He realizes that love is not just about infatuation but requires a deep emotional and intellectual connection to survive. The lines "there is a ship that sails the sea, she's loaded deep, as deep can be, but not so deep as the love I need" emphasize the depth and intensity of love the singer is seeking.


The final lines "And both shall row, my love and I" suggest that love requires teamwork and effort from both parties to overcome challenges and cross over to the other side.


Line by Line Meaning

The water is wide, I cannot get over
I am faced with an obstacle that seems insurmountable


And nor do I, have wings to fly
I do not have the ability to overcome this obstacle by myself


Give me a boat, that can carry two
I need a partner to help me overcome this obstacle


And both shall row, my love and I
We will work together to overcome this obstacle


Oh love is handsome, and love is fine
Love is attractive and enjoyable


Bright as a jewel, when it's first new
Love is shiny and new when it first begins


But love grows old, and waxes cold
Love can become stagnant and unpassionate over time


And fades away, like morning dew
Love can disappear quickly, like dew evaporating in the morning sun


There is a ship, that sails the sea
There are opportunities and possibilities in life


She's loaded deep, as deep can be
These opportunities and possibilities are abundant


But not so deep, as the love I need
However, these opportunities and possibilities do not compare to the love that I crave


I know not if, I sink or swim
I am unsure of the outcome of my actions in pursuing this love


And both shall row, my love and I
Together, we will face the unknown and work towards our love


The water is wide, I cannot get over
Despite the uncertainty, the obstacle in front of us seems impossible to overcome alone


And nor do I, have wings to fly
Without my partner, I am powerless and cannot succeed


Give me a boat, that can carry two
I need the support and partnership of someone to face this challenge


And both shall row, my love and I
Together, we will conquer the obstacle and come out stronger


And both shall row, my love and I
We will work together through the challenges and obstacles that life presents




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Traditional Music

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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All comments from YouTube:

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I play this for my baby

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