The Water is Wide

Originally a Scottish or English song from the 17th century, this song has become a integral part of the Irish folk repertoire because of its historical resonance. French folk singer Renaud arranged his own song, La ballade nord-irlandaise, on this same melody in 1991. Renaud’s arrangement was an appeal for peace in Northern Ireland.


The water is wide, I cannot get o’er,
And Neither have I the wings to fly.
Give me a boat, that can carry two,
And both shall row, my love and I.

I leaned my back up against an oak
I thought it was a trusty tree
but first it swayed and then it broke
And so my false love did unto me.

A ship there is 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 if I sink or swim.

O love is handsome and love is kind
And love’s a jewel while it is new
but when it is old and groweth cold
And fades away like morning dew

2 Comments

  1. John Daly wrote
    at 2:22 pm - 14th May 2010 Permalink

    Ou est-ce-que je peux trouver les paroles francaises de cette chanson?
    Merci d’avance.
    John Daly

  2. James Keating wrote
    at 4:47 pm - 15th May 2010 Permalink

    Hello ! There are a lot of sites with lyrics out there of that song by Renaud. Here’s what we found :

    Lyrics to La Ballade Nord Irlandaise :
    J’ai voulu planter un oranger
    Là où la chanson n’en verra jamais
    Là où les arbres n’ont jamais donné
    Que des grenades dégoupillées

    Jusqu’à Derry ma bien aimée
    Sur mon bateau j’ai navigué
    J’ai dit aux hommes qui se battaient
    Je viens planter un oranger

    Buvons un verre, allons pêcher
    Pas une guerre ne pourra durer
    Lorsque la bière et l’amitié
    Et la musique nous ferons chanter

    Tuez vos dieux à tout jamais
    Sous aucune croix l’amour ne se plaît
    Ce sont les hommes pas les curés
    Qui font pousser les orangers

    Je voulais planter un oranger
    Là où la chanson n’en verra jamais
    Il a fleuri et il a donné
    Les fruits sucrés de la liberté

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *