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The Water Is Wide is a traditional folk ballad from the British Isles, also known as O Waly, Waly, that has been passed down through oral tradition and recorded by many folk singers over the years. Its lyrics speak of love that, like the wide water, cannot easily be crossed, which gives the melody its enduring sense of longing. The tune has moved beyond folk recordings into films, television and online videos, where short excerpts are reused as shorthand for nostalgia, loss and quiet reflection. Its simple, memorable line keeps it recognisable even in a clip lasting a few seconds.
About this sound
An excerpt of the folk song The Water Is Wide, with a gentle, melancholic melody. Creators use it for emotional, nostalgic and reflective moments in videos.
This is a brief, haunting passage from The Water Is Wide, the traditional folk ballad about love and loss, presented here as a simple, flowing melody. The sound is soft and unhurried, with a clear, lilting line that rises and falls like water itself, creating a calm but wistful mood. There is no rush or drama in the phrasing, just a steady, tender sadness that lingers after each note. For a viewer, it feels intimate and reflective, evoking memories of distance, longing and quiet farewell, and it lends a scene a sense of timelessness without overpowering the images on screen.
