I have been searching the archives for historical references for the song "the water is wide" and I can't seem to find what I need (though there certainly are a lot of threads about the song). I am pretty sure the song has Irish origins, but does any one know for sure? Is it just one of those songs that have been passed around so long that the origins have been blurred?

I am singing it in a concert in a few weeks and I am trying to prepare the song introduction. Because we are an Irish band, I would like to link it to its Irish roots. It would be great if I had some history on when it showed up in the U.S. how early a version was cited in Ireland.

Maybe I am asking the impossible, but its worth a try.

Many thanks, in advance, to anyone with some info.

Claire