The water is wide, I can not get o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
O go and get me some little boat
To carry o'er my true love and I
A-down in the meadows the other day
A-gath'rin' flowers both fine and gay
A gath'rin' flowers, both red and blue
I little thought what love could do
I put my hand into one soft bush
Thinking the sweetst flow'r to find
I prick'd my finger to the bone
And left the sweetest flow'r alone
I leaned my back against some oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree
But first he bended, then he broke
So did my love prove false to me
Where love is planted, O there it grows
It buds and blossoms like some rose
It has a sweet and pleasant smell
No flow'r on earth can it excel
Must I be bound, O, and she go free!
Must I love one that that does not love me!
Why should I act such a childish part
And love a girl that will break my heart?
There is a ship sailing on the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as in love I am
I care not if I sink or swim
O love is handsome and love is fine
And love is charming when it is true
As it grows older, it groweth colder
And fades away like the morning dew
Notes: today this song is often sung by a man, as if about a girl. This is not really how it should be, and the fifth verse in this version (Sharp's 100 English Folk Songs) is patently out of place with the rest in syntax and language, and is best omitted entirely.
The song contains very direct sexual symbolism which is better understood if you assume it is sung by girl who is suffering from an unwanted pregnancy. One key to this is the verse about leaning against an oak. In the language of these songs, this implies the singer had attempted a country-lore remedy for an abortion, but this had failed.
The song has many variations and you may simply find that the modern, sentimental rendering is to your taste anyway - the tune alone is enough to keep most audiences happy. Personally I find the content and meaning of many older sets of words reassuring. It is is good to know that the world has not really deteriorated, and that these problems have always beset and obsessed man (and woman) kind alike!