The Water Is Wide. English Traditional By Estelle Bertrand This splendid accompanied melody is an English folk song first published in 1906. The theme is simple, mostly in long notes and of short range. In this arrangement, the open strings play a predominant role and contribute to the melancholic atmosphere that emanates from it. Think of this piece first in relation to the chord positions and be careful of the left hand extensions. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez sang this title as a duet in 1975.