The Water Is Wide by Cecil Sharp, Trad

The Water Is Wide

1906

Cecil Sharp, Trad

AmBb6BbM7C7DmFF7

7 chords used in this song

Based on a Scottish folk song ("O Waly, Waly"), the definitive modern version was published by Cecil Sharp in Folk Songs From Somerset (1906). The song has an extensive history dating back to the 1600s.

	F	Bb6	F
The water is	Fwide	Bb6and I can't cross	Fover

	Dm	Bb6	C7
And neither	Dmhave	Bb6I wings to	C7fly

	F	F7	BbM7
Build me a	Fboat	F7that can carry	BbM7two

	Am	Bb6	C7	F	Bb6	F
And both shall	Amrow	Bb6My	C7love and	FI	Bb6	F

	F	Bb6	F
Oh love is	Fgentle	Bb6and love is	Fkind

	Dm	Bb6	C7
Gay as a	Dmjewel	Bb6when first it's	C7new

	F	F7	BbM7
But love grows	Fold	F7and waxes	BbM7cold

	Am	Bb6	C7	F	Bb6	F
And fades a	Amway	Bb6like the	C7morning	Fdew	Bb6	F

	F	Bb6	F
There is a	Fship	Bb6and it sails the	Fsea

	Dm	Bb6	C7
Loaded	Dmdeep	Bb6as deep can	C7be

	F	F7	BbM7
But not as	Fdeep	F7as the love I'm	BbM7in

	Am	Bb6	C7	F	Bb6	F
I know not	Amif	Bb6I	C7sink or	Fswim	Bb6	F

	F	Bb6	F
The water is	Fwide	Bb6and I can't cross	Fover

	Dm	Bb6	C7
And neither	Dmhave	Bb6I wings to	C7fly

	F	F7	BbM7
Build me a	Fboat	F7that can carry	BbM7two

	Am	Bb6	C7	F	Bb6	F
And both shall	Amrow	Bb6My	C7love and	FI	Bb6	F

       F Bb   F    Dm Bb  C7
A| ----0 ------ ---- --01 -
E| -113- -131-- -101 -3-- 3
C| 0---- ----20 0--- ---- -
G| ----- ------ ---- ---- -

      F F7   Bb   Am Bb C7 F
A| -013 10-- 0 ----    --- -
E| 3--- --31 - 31--    --1 1
C| ---- ---- - --20    02- -
G| ---- ---- - ----    --- -

Lyrics are the property and copyright of their owners, and are provided here for educational purposes only.

Back to Songbook

Download song sheet (PDF)

§	James Taylor	[ F ]
	Karla Bonoff	[ D ]