Cowboy Junkies: The Water is Wide

I was watching the 1994 dramatic thriller The River Wild the other night and noticed that throughout the film’s score were various instrumental interpretations of the 17th century English folksong “The Water is Wide.” At the end of the movie, a version by the Cowboy Junkies played over the credits.

In addition to its feature in the movie, the song later appeared on the band’s 1999 compilation album “Rarities, B-Sides and Slow, Sad Waltzes.”  The Cowboy Junkies put a unique and interesting spin on this classic folk tune. The haunting vocals, slow tremolo guitar, and mandolin add to this version's mystique.