The Water Is Wide

The Water Is Wide
lyrics - public domain
arranged by Frank Hamilton and Karla Bonoff
Ad Noiseum (ASCAP)
Admin. by Seagrape music (BMI)
Used With Permission


The water is wide, I can't cross o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I

Oh love is gentle and love is kind
The sweetest flower when first it's new
but love grows old and waxes cold and fades away
like morning dew

There is a ship and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I'm in
I know not how I sink or swim

The water is wide, I can't cross o'er
And neither have I 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


"The Water Is Wide" appeared on
Restless Nights - Karla Bonoff - 1979
All My Life - The Best Of Karla Bonoff - Karla Bonoff - 1999
Soundtrack - Thirtysomething - 1991
Karla Bonoff Live - 2007



autographed copies available from
The Karla Bonoff Store

James Taylor played on Karla's version and he's since recorded
the song himself on both a studio and live album.