Cliff Richard - The Water Is Wide Lyrics
Lyrics
The water is wide I can't cross over
And neither have I got 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 the only love never waxing cold
Is the love He offers to me and you
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row my love and I
There's a ship and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
And even deeper than the love I'm in
If I step on board then our love begins
Got to step on board let our love begin
(Water is wide and I've got to cross over)
Video
The Water Is Wide (2002 Remaster)
Meaning & Inspiration
Cliff Richard's rendition of "The Water Is Wide," released on January 1, 1982, as part of his album *Now You See Me... Now You Don't*, takes a beloved folk classic and imbues it with profound spiritual depth. While the traditional song often laments the impossibility of love or the pain of separation, Cliff Richard, a prominent voice in Christian music, masterfully transforms its core meaning. He retains the familiar imagery of insurmountable distances and the longing for connection, but redirects the ultimate solution from earthly efforts to divine intervention, shifting the narrative from a simple love song to a powerful testament of God's unwavering love and provision.
The song opens with a raw expression of human limitation: "The water is wide I can't cross over / And neither have I got wings to fly." This stanza beautifully articulates the innate human condition, facing life's vast, often overwhelming challenges without the inherent capacity to overcome them. It mirrors the scriptural truth that apart from God, humanity is truly helpless, unable to bridge the chasm of sin and reach Him through our own strength or merit (Romans 3:23). The yearning for a solution follows: "Give me a boat that can carry two / And both shall row my love and I." While initially evoking a romantic partnership, within the spiritual context established later, this "love" takes on a deeper significance, suggesting a desperate need for a divine partner to navigate life's turbulent waters, echoing Jesus's invitation to take His yoke upon us, for it is easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30). This boat represents a vehicle of salvation, a means of passage provided by grace, not human effort.
The song’s spiritual core truly blossoms in the second stanza, where Cliff Richard decisively reinterprets the original's sentiment. It acknowledges the fleeting beauty of human affection: "Oh love is gentle and love is kind / The sweetest flower when first it's new." Indeed, human love, though precious, is often temporary and subject to change. Yet, the pivotal line arrives: "But the only love never waxing cold / Is the love He offers to me and you." The capitalized "He" unequivocally points to God, revealing the song's ultimate message. This declaration stands as a beacon of hope, contrasting the transient nature of worldly love with the eternal, unchanging love of God. It directly calls to mind passages like Matthew 24:12, where Jesus speaks of love growing cold, and beautifully juxtaposes it with God’s enduring faithfulness (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6). This divine love is not something we earn but is freely "offered," a gift of grace to all who will receive it (John 3:16).
The recurring plea for a shared journey on the boat reinforces the idea of partnership, specifically with Christ. The final stanza introduces a powerful new image: "There's a ship and she sails the sea / She's loaded deep as deep can be / And even deeper than the love I'm in." This grand ship serves as a magnificent metaphor for God's boundless grace and provision, for the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. It is "loaded deep" with forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional acceptance, a love so profound it surpasses all human understanding and experience (Ephesians 3:18-19). The crucial step is an act of faith and surrender: "If I step on board then our love begins / Got to step on board let our love begin." This is an urgent call to embrace the covenant relationship with God, to accept His invitation, and embark on the transformative journey of faith. It’s an echo of Revelation 3:20, where Christ stands at the door, knocking, inviting us to let Him in. The song concludes with the poignant reminder, "(Water is wide and I've got to cross over)," which now, viewed through the lens of God's love and the provision of His "ship," transforms from a statement of despair into one of resolute purpose and assured hope. It underscores that while the journey is necessary, the means to overcome the impossible barrier has been provided, offering profound encouragement to anyone facing life's daunting "wide waters."