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Steeleye Span: The Water Is Wide

[Trad. arr. Steeleye Span]

“They were once known as `love affairs' but now we call them `relationships'. They are still fraught, however, with what seems to be insurmountable problems and sometimes we know not if we `sink or swim'. When all is said and done, perhaps a `boat that will carry two' is the best way to navigate the sea of love and life.”
[Time sleeve notes]

Steeleye Span recorded two verses of this traditional song from the eighteenth century for their album Time. A live recording from The Forum, London on September 2, 1995 was released on the CD The Journey. And Steeleye Span's guitarist Ken Nicol recorded this song for his solo album Thirteen Reasons.

Marsden Blant & Squire recorded The Water is Wide in 2003 for their album Trio.

Lyrics

There is a ship
That sails the sea
It is loaded deep
As deep can be.
But not so deep
As the love I'm in
That I know not if
I sink or swim.

The water is wide
We cannot get o'er
And neither have
I wings to fly.
Give me a boat
That will carry two
That boat shall row
My love and I

Note: On The Journey, the second line of the second verse is “I cannot swim over”.