The Water of Tyne facts for kids
The Water of Tyne" is a traditional folk song from the north-east of England. It's about a girl who is sad because her sweetheart is on the other side of the River Tyne. She can't get across the river to him.
What the Song is About
This song tells the story of a girl who wants to cross the River Tyne to be with her love. She asks for a boatman to help her. The river is wide and she can't reach him. Some people think the song is about a ferry crossing near Haughton Castle on the North Tyne river. Others believe it might be about a place further down the river, like Tynemouth, where the river is rougher.
You can easily change the song to be sung by a boy instead of a girl. Just change the words "him" to "her" in the right places!
Where the Song Comes From
A man named John Bell first wrote down this song in 1810. It was then printed two years later in a book called Rhymes of Northern Bards.
The Song's Words
Here are the words to "The Water of Tyne":
I cannot get to my love, if I would dee,
The water of Tyne runs between him and me;
And here I must stand with a tear in my e'e,
Both sighing and sickly my sweetheart to see.
O where is the boatman? my bonny hinny!
O where is the boatman? bring him to me,—
To ferry me over the Tyne to my honey,
And I will remember the boatman and thee.
O bring me a boatman, I'll give any money,
And you for your trouble rewarded shall be,—
To ferry me over the Tyne to my honey,
Or scull him across that rough river to me.
The Song's Music
This part shows the musical notes for the song. It's like a map for how to play or sing the tune. <score %vorbis="1"%%T257066%> \relative c { \language "english" \key d \major \time 6/8 \autoBeamOff \tempo "Andante con moto." 8=120 \partial 8 a8 | a8 fs fs a fs e | d8 d8. d16 d4 e16[( fs)] | g8 g fs e fs a | b8 b8. b16 a4 fs16[( e)] | d8 d' d d8. e16 fs8 | d8 a8. b16 b4 cs16[( d)] | a8 fs a a fs8. e16 | \mark \markup { \italic {rit.} } d8 d8. d16 d4 \bar "|." } </score> The tune is also known as "The meeting of the waters".
