The water is wide I cannot cross o’er
And neither have I the wings to fly
Give me a boat that will 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 as deep as this love I’m in
And I know not to sink or swim

I leaned my back ‘gainst some young oak
Thinking he was a trusty tree
But first he bent and then he broke
And thus did my true love to me

I put my hand into some soft bush
Thinking the sweetest flower to find
I pricked my finger to the bone
And left the sweetest flower behind

Oh love is tender and love is kind
And love’s a jewel when first ‘tis new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like summers dew

(Traditional)