The river is wide, I can't get o'er

Nor do I have like wings to fly

Give me a boat that can carry two,

And both shall cross my love and I



Oh waly, waly, up the bank

And waly, waly down the braes,

And waly, waly by yon burnside

Where me and my love was wont to go



I leaned my back against an oak

Thinking it was a trusty tree,

But first it bent and then it broke,

And so did my love prove false to me



I put my hand in some soft bush

Thinking the sweetest flower to find

I pricked my finger to the bone

And left the sweetest flower behind



Oh, love is handsome, love is kind

Gay as a jewel when first it's new

But love grows old and waxes cold,

And fades away like morning dew