August 22, 2008 @ 6:58 am | Filed under: Poetry, Scottish folksongs
Another old Scots ballad I’ve been humming almost incessantly lately.
The water is wide,
I canna cross o’er.
Neither have I wings to fly.
Give me a boat that can carry two,
And both shall row,
my love and I.A ship there is,
And she sails the sea.
She’s loaded deep as deep can be.
But not so deep
As the love I’m in…
I know not if I sink or swim.
I love these old songs so very much. This one goes way, way back, and has many variations, some Scottish, some English. The most common version, the one I’ve quoted above, goes on to tell a very sad tale of love lost, betrayal, faithlessness. But I like the song best just like this: these two simple verses, which by themselves seem to me to speak to a true love, a real love, the kind between two people who, pulling together, can navigate stormy waters no matter how burdened the boat.
If you’d like to listen to the melody—perhaps even more beautiful than the lyrics—here’s a lovely version by Jewel, Sarah MacLachlan, and The Indigo Girls. (YouTube clip.)
Or here’s James Taylor.
The singer in this YouTube clip sounds like Charlotte Church to me, though she isn’t credited. The visuals are scenery.
This week’s Poetry Friday round-up can be found at Read. Imagine. Talk.
Comments RSS | TrackBack URI
Comment a lot? Register here. Already registered? Login here.
Want your own gravatar? Get one here.
Oh, I love this song! Like you, I especially like those two verses. The rest of it is sad, even cynical. My favorite rendition so far is by The King’s Singers
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 amOh how I love that song, which I sing from time to time myself (only I never remember the second verse). It is so haunting and lovely. And often, it makes me cry. It’s not the words, really, so much as the haunting nature of the tune – the build and the rise in the middle of the stanza.
And now, I can learn all the words to verse 2. Thank you.
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 8:10 amThis is one of my favorites. I actually know it by the title Wally Wally….not sure why, but assume it is Gaelic or something(?).
There is also a similar song by the Peasall Sisters (look them up…they are WONDERFUL!!! Great harmonies as only sisters can do!)
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 amWaly Waly is the even older Scottish version…
O waly waly up the bank
And waly waly doon the brae,
And waly way by yon burn side
Where I and my first love did gae.
I leaned my back against an oak
Thinkin’ it was a trusty tree,
But first it bent and then it broke,
And so did my first love tae me.
When we cam in frae Glasgow toun,
We were a comely sight tae see,
My love was clad in the velvet black,
And I mysel in cramasie.
Noo Arthur’s Seat shall be my bed,
No sheets shall e’er be pressed by me,
Saint Anton’s Well shall be my drink,
Since my fause love’s forsaken me.
‘Tis not the frost that freezes fell
Nor blawin’ snaw’s inclemency,
‘Tis not sic cauld that makes me cry
But my love’s heart’s grown cauld tae me.
Oh Martinmas wind when wilt thou blaw
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pmAnd shake the green leaves off the tree ?
Oh gentle death, when wilt thou come ?
For of my life I am weary.
Oh this brings back a great memory.
Two years ago (just after the baby was born) we were away on vacation, when the children joined a talent show. Almost all the contestants in the show sang songs from High Musical or danced to hip hop, but Margaret (then still
sang The Water is Wide, a capella. She absolutely brought the house down with her pure, young, earnest voice. People went crazy. It was such a great moment for her!
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 1:38 pmThank you for the reminder of this lovely old song. I really like James Taylor’s arrangement of the lyrics – and having the BSO (or even the Pops) behind you never hurts.
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pmOh, thank you. I love these old songs too but somehow have never heard this one before. It’s so very lovely.
And may I add that it interrupted the baby’s nursing session. She seriously pulled off and craned her neck to watch the you tube videos over her shoulder. I finally had to just sit her up where she could watch the computer. I can already tell she’s going to be just like her big sister: Video, mama, video. I want video.
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pmHow odd. I learned this song in the first grade — and learned the first verse you wrote, the second verse of Wally Wally, and a third verse that I think my teacher must have made up:
I trust my heart/to God’s good care,
And He shall be/ My Guardian Guide,
And I shall walk/ Forever free,
His Presence near/ Right by my side.
Our teacher played a lap heart, and it was really pretty.
Incidentally, King Arthur’s Seat is a massive cliff in Edinburgh, just below the palace. What a horrible place to lie down and die.
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 amI *love* this song, too. Have you heard Niamh Parsons sing it? Here’s a link:
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSYZ2UqMqg
The other tune I was thinking of was Carrick Fergus. Have you heard it?
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 4:49 amOh Karen, I LOVE Niamh’s version!! Lovely!
Jamie, I don’t know that one–I will look it up. Can’t wait to hear.
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 amTadMack,
I don’t know, I climbed King Arthur’s seat with my friend when on a breezy February holiday. I have very fond memories of that trip and rather thought it would be a nice final resting place.
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 amI love this song too. First heard it sung by Maybelle in Homecoming (movie version of Cynthia Voigt’s book) and bought Charlotte Church’s Enchantment album because of this and Carrickfergus. I also love the Lilith Fair version with Jewel, Sarah Mclachlan, and the Indigo Girls singing it.
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 amThat’s one of my favorite songs. It never fails to move me, no matter how many times I hear it.
Posted on August 24th, 2008 at 5:25 amThat’s one of my favorite songs, too!
Posted on August 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pmThere is a beautiful hymn to the tune of “The Water is Wide” as well. So lovely!
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Posted on August 25th, 2008 at 11:48 amOur spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.
I’m so glad I followed a link to your blog today. I love this song, but didn’t remember it by name until I pulled up the u-tube spots. I heard an African choir sing it when I was in college–so haunting and beautiful. I can’t wait to share it with my kids in the morning. I have visited here before–you inspire me each time. Your words always fill me with wishes.
Posted on August 25th, 2008 at 8:35 pmI was looking for a youtube of The Water is Wide and found your lovely discussion. Thank you so much. I will be passing this site on to a friend who I was telling about The Water is Wide.
Posted on October 6th, 2009 at 5:37 am