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The Water Is Wide

Chords

4.9354 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

The Water Is Wide chords
Capo III  *
D G F#m  A7
The water is DwideG  
I can't cross Dover
And neither BmhaveG  
I wings to A7sus4flyA7  
Build me a F#mboatAm7  
That can carry GtwoEm  
And both shall F#mrowA7sus4  
My love and DI
There is a DshipG  
And she sails the Dsea
She's loaded BmdeepG  
As deep can Abe
But not so F#mdeepAm7  
As the love I'm GinEm  
I know not F#mhowA7sus4  
             D   D   Dsus4   D(hammer)
I sink or swim
Oh love is DhandsomeG  
And love is Dfine
The sweetest BmflowerG  
When first it's Anew
But love grows F#mold
And waxes DcoldG  
And fades aF#mwayA7  
Like Gsummer Ddew
D G D Bm G A
Build me a F#mboat
That can carry DtwoG  
And both shall F#mrowA7  
My Glove and DI
And both shall F#mrowA7  
My Glove and DI
* Alternate:
Open
      D= F  
      G= Bb  
    F#m= Am  
     A7= C7  
     Bm= Dm  
    Am7= Cm7  
  Dsus4= Fsus4  
 A7sus4= C7sus4  
Set8

All chords in this song (18)

The story behind the song

"The Water Is Wide" explores the challenging nature of love, depicting its initial beauty and kindness during the honeymoon phase. However, the lyrics reveal that love can also "grow old, and wax cold," even fading away like morning dew. The modern lyrics, consolidated by Cecil Sharp in 1906 from older British folk sources, weave together verses that illustrate these shifting dynamics of affection. James Taylor, a renowned singer-songwriter known for his cover versions and original hits, brings his signature touch to this folk song. Playing it means immersing yourself in the bittersweet journey of love's enduring yet fragile essence.

AI-written from these sources:The Water Is Wide (song) — Wikipedia ↗James Taylor — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Water Is Wide

by James Taylor

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

A7sus4

Am7

Dsus4

Cm7

Fsus4

C7sus4

The Water Is Wide chords

Capo III *

D G F#m A7

D G

The water is wide

I can't cross over

Bm G

And neither have

A7sus4 A7

I wings to fly

F#m Am7

Build me a boat

G Em

That can carry two

F#m A7sus4

And both shall row

My love and I

D G

There is a ship

And she sails the sea

Bm G

She's loaded deep

As deep can be

F#m Am7

But not so deep

G Em

As the love I'm in

F#m A7sus4

I know not how

D D Dsus4 D

(hammer)

I sink or swim

D G

Oh love is handsome

And love is fine

Bm G

The sweetest flower

When first it's new

F#m

But love grows old

D G

And waxes cold

F#m A7

And fades away

G D

Like summer dew

D G D Bm G A

F#m

Build me a boat

D G

That can carry two

F#m A7

And both shall row

G D

My love and I

F#m A7

And both shall row

G D

My love and I

* Alternate:

Open

D F

G Bb

F#m Am

A7 C7

Bm Dm

Am7 Cm7

Dsus4 Fsus4

A7sus4 C7sus4

Set8

About The Water Is Wide Chords by James Taylor

Learn how to play The Water Is Wide by James Taylor with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Water Is Wide chords”, “The Water Is Wide guitar chords”, or “James Taylor The Water Is Wide chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Water Is Wide chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Water Is Wide lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, F#m, A7, Bm, A7sus4.

FAQ — The Water Is Wide by James Taylor

How do I play "The Water Is Wide" by James Taylor on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Water Is Wide" by James Taylor on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Water Is Wide" by James Taylor free?

Yes. The chords for "The Water Is Wide" by James Taylor are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Water Is Wide" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Water Is Wide" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Water Is Wide"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Water Is Wide" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Water Is Wide" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Water Is Wide" by James Taylor with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by James Taylor below.

What key is "The Water Is Wide" in?

The chords for "The Water Is Wide" show the original chord names (including D, G, F#m, A7, Bm, A7sus4). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.