The Water is Wide

Background information: The ballad can be traced back to a songbook called, Folk Songs From Somerset. Third Series, collected by Cecil Sharp and Charles Marson, which was published in 1906. In that book it was titled "Waly, Waly". Somerset is located in Scotland. Though the book was published in the early 1900s, the song dates back to 1725 (Kloss, 2012).

Click the button below to download the sheet music

Video recording

Lesson Plans

Idea #1

-This song can be turned into an echo song by breaking it into two measure phrases.

-It is recommended that this song be taught by rote due to the frequent time signature changes.

Idea #2

-A chordal instrument such as guitar, ukulele, or piano can accompany this song.

-If being used as a concert piece, a verse or two can be performed by a small group or solo singer.

-Instruments can be used to create a soundscape imitating water sounds such as an ocean drum, rain stick, or create an instrument using found objects.

Idea #3

-The bass line can be played using barred instruments or by singing it on solfege. The time signature changes are not listed on the bass line that I created in order to make it easier to read for students. To make it line up with the song, the first note should start on the word "water", therefore the word "The" serves as a pickup note.