Thursday 10 February 2011
Tune of the Day: The Water Is Wide
Traditional English song
This English folk song, sometimes called “O Waly, Waly”, has been sung since the 1600s, and has seen considerable popularity through to the 21st century. It is sometimes reported to be part of a longer ballad, “Lord Jamie Douglas”, but this was first published in 1776, and the edition states it is to be sung to the tune of “Waly, Waly”, so it is fairly certain that “Waly, Waly” is the earlier tune. The roots of the song are unclear, with some claiming an English origin and others claiming a Scottish origin.
“The Water Is Wide” has been recorded countless times, with popular renditions by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Enya, Karla Bonoff, Eva Cassidy and many others.