The Water Is Wide
The water is wide
I can't cross over
And neither have
I wings to fly
Build me a boat
That can carry two
And both shall row
My love and I
There is a ship
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 how
To sink or swim
Oh love is handsome
And love is fine
The sweetest flower
When first it's new
But love grows old
And waxes cold
And fades away
Like summer dew
Build me a boat
That can carry two
And both shall row
My love and I
And both shall row
My love and I
The Water Is Wide Trad.
Performed by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (8 times) during the first Rolling Thunder Tour (1975), and 3 times in 1989-90. Released on Live 1975 (2002)
The tab is based on the version from Plymouth, Oct 1975
G C G
The water is wide and I can't cross over ( The water is wide I cannot get over )
e D7
Neither have I wings to fly ( And neither have I wings to fly )
h C
Build me a boat that can carry two ( Give me a boat that can carry two )
G D7 C G/b a G (C/g G)
And both shall row my love and I.
2.
There is a ship and it sails on the sea ( There is a ship it’s sailing the sea )
Loaded deep as deep can be ( It’s loaded deep as deep can be )
But not as deep as the love I'm in ( But not so deep as my love for him )
I know not if I sink or swim.
3.
I leaned my back up against an oak ( I leaned my back up against some young oak )
Thinkin' it was a trusty tree ( Thinking he was a trusty tree )
But first it bent and then it broke ( But first he bended, and then he broke )
Just like my own false love to me. ( And thus did my false love to me )
4.
Oh love is gentle, love is kind ( Oh love is handsome and love is fine )
Gay as a jewel when first it's new ( And love's a jewel when it's first new )
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like some morning dew. ( And fades away like morning dew )
5.
The water is wide and I can't cross over ( The water is wide I cannot get over )
Neither have I wings to fly ( And neither have I wings to fly )
Build me a boat that can carry two ( Give me a boat that can carry two )
And both shall row my love and I.