Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION

Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS

Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT

Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Playlist Covers

Playlist Directory

Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS

Music Video Directory

Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST

Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED

Dork Radio

Live

Live 24/7

Dork Radio

Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

June 2026

Latest issue variants

Dork, June 2026 (Bleachers cover)

Bleachers

Dork, June 2026 (Myles Smith cover)

Myles Smith

Dork, June 2026 (Towa Bird cover)

Towa Bird

|

Privacy Policy|

Cookie settings

© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advertise on this site.

The Decemberists – Annan Water (2009) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
The Decemberists
The Hazards of Love
Annan Water

TRACK

The Decemberists

Annan Water

Release date: 24th March 2009

From The Hazards of Love

More on The Decemberists

About This Track

"Annan Water" is a track by The Decemberists, from the album The Hazards of Love, released 24th March 2009. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about The Decemberists.

About the Artist

The Decemberists

The Decemberists

Lyrics

Annan Water

[Verse 1]

Annan water, you loom so deep and wide

I would cross over if you would stem the tide

Or build a boat that I might ford the other side

To reach the farther shore where my true love lies in wait for me

In wait for me, in wait for me, in wait for me

[Verse 2]

Oh gray river, your waters ramble wild

The horses shiver and bite against the bridle

But I will cross if mine own horse is pulled from me

Though my mother cries that if I try I sure will drowned be

Will drowned be, will drowned be, will drowned be

[Chorus]

But if you calm and let me pass

You may render me a wreck when I come back

So calm your waves and slow the churn

And you may have my precious bones on my return

[Verse 3]

Annan water, oh hear my true love's call

Hear her holler above your water's pall

God that I could, that my two arms could give me wing

And I would cross your breadth and rest my breast about her amber ring

Her amber ring, her amber ring, her amber ring

[Chorus]

But if you calm and let me pass

You may render me a wreck when I come back

So calm your waves and slow the churn

And you may have my precious bones on my, on my return

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From The Hazards of Love

2009

Listen

Album

The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists

Release year

2009

—A Bower Scene
—An Interlude
—Margaret in Captivity
—Prelude
—The Abduction of Margaret
—The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)
—The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing
—The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
—The Queen's Approach
—Annan Water
—The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)
—The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
—The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)
—Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)
—The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)
—Isn’t It a Lovely Night?

More from The Decemberists

Albums & EPs

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the Garden - EP

Joan in the Garden - EP

Live Home Library Vol. I

Traveling On - EP

Traveling On - EP

I'll Be Your Girl

I'll Be Your Girl

Florasongs - EP

Florasongs - EP

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11 - 08.11)

Explore

More tracks by The Decemberists

William Fitzwilliam (Live)

Tell Me What’s on Your MindAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Don’t Go to the WoodsAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Burial GroundAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Tell Me What's on Your MindAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Don't Go to the WoodsAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

America Made MeAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Born to the MorningAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Oh No!As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Long White VeilAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Never SatisfiedAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Black MariaAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

William FitzwilliamAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The ReapersAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP

Clementine (Cover Version)

Wm. Fitzwilliam

PreludeLive Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone)Live Home Library Vol. I

A Bower SceneLive Home Library Vol. I

Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Queen's ApproachLive Home Library Vol. I

Isn't It A Lovely Night?Live Home Library Vol. I

The Wanting Comes In Waves / RepaidLive Home Library Vol. I

An InterludeLive Home Library Vol. I

The Rake's SongLive Home Library Vol. I

The Abduction Of MargaretLive Home Library Vol. I

The Queen's Rebuke / The CrossingLive Home Library Vol. I

Annan WaterLive Home Library Vol. I

Margaret In CaptivityLive Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Wanting Comes In Waves (Reprise)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)Live Home Library Vol. I

The Capp Street Girls

Down on the KnuckleTraveling On - EP

Midlist AuthorTraveling On - EP

I Will Not Say Your NameTraveling On - EP

Traveling OnTraveling On - EP

Tripping Along (Full Band Version)Traveling On - EP

I'll Be Your GirlI'll Be Your Girl

Rusalka, Rusalka / The Wild RushesI'll Be Your Girl

Tripping AlongI'll Be Your Girl

View all tracks by The Decemberists →

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
19:21
Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP
19:21
A Bower SceneLive Home Library Vol. I
All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
2:38
America Made MeAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
5:20
An InterludeLive Home Library Vol. I
Annan WaterLive Home Library Vol. I
Black Mariah
Born to the MorningAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
3:24
Burial GroundAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
4:05

Showing 10 of 50

If you like The Decemberists

Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy

Tarkio

The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats

The Shins

The Shins

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie

Okkervil River

Okkervil River

The New Pornographers

The New Pornographers

Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine

Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird

Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

READ MORE ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS

The Decemberists: "Everything actually is awful, and it's not that funny"

The Decemberists: "Everything actually is awful, and it's not that funny"

Colin Meloy chats with Dork about getting out of old habits, branching out into literature and what’s next for The Decemberists.

7 Nov 2018 • 3:30 pm

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Colin Meloy
Producer: The Decemberists, Tucker Martine
Vocals: Colin Meloy
Accordion: Jenny Conlee
Acoustic Guitar: Colin Meloy
Autoharp: Chris Funk
Double Bass: Nate Query
Hammered Dulcimer: Chris Funk
Hammond B-3 Organ: Jenny Conlee
Handclaps: John Moen
Hurdy-Gurdy: Chris Funk
Mandolin: Chris Funk
Marxophone: Chris Funk
Synthesizer: Chris Funk