Overview of O Waly Walt Lyrics – Toronto Children's Chorus

Song Facts:

• Genre: Folk


• Performed by: Toronto Children's Chorus


• Soundtrack: Featured in the soundtrack for the movie "Challengers"

Artist Info:

The Toronto Children's Chorus is a renowned choir known for its pure and refined sound, engaging young voices from various backgrounds. Established to provide children with exceptional choral music education and performance experiences, the chorus has gained international acclaim for its discipline, versatility, and innovative repertoire. Under the guidance of skilled conductors, these young singers perform a diverse array of music, ranging from classical compositions to contemporary pieces and folk songs, often collaborating with orchestras and other prestigious ensembles.

Annotations and Meaning:

"O Waly, Waly," often known as "The Water is Wide," is a traditional folk song originating from the British Isles. Its lyrics explore themes of love, loss, and reflection. The song begins with a representation of a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: "The water is wide, I cannot get o’er", which metaphorically could relate to the challenges and distances in relationships.
The verse "Give me a boat that will carry two, And both shall row, my love and I" suggests a desire for shared effort in love, symbolizing that overcoming challenges is possible when both partners contribute equally. This idea contrasts later in the song with the line "But first he bended and then he broke, And so did my false love to me", highlighting betrayal and the pain of unmet expectations.

The stanza about the ship sailing deep in the sea while carrying a heavy load compares the depth of the sea to the depth of the singer's emotions, illustrating how love can feel overwhelming and all-consuming. It reflects the feeling of being so deeply in love that one is unsure whether they will "sink or swim."

Finally, the lyrics "O, love is handsome and love is fine, And love’s a jewel while it is new, But when it is old, it groweth cold, And fades away like morning dew" contemplate the transient nature of love, suggesting that while love starts as something beautiful and precious, it can diminish over time, much like dew evaporates at the dawn.