Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim Lyrics






There's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
And a garden of such beauty
That the flower seem to grin

There's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
I live my life regretting
That I never jumped in

There's a boy across the river
With short black curly hair
He wants to be my lover
And I want to be his peer

There's a boy across the river
But alas I cannot swim
I never will get to put
My arms around him

There's a life across the river
That was meant for me
Instead I live my life
in constant misery

There's a life across the river
But I do not see
Why I should please those
Who will never be pleased

There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none

Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun
Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun

There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
I would rather be tried
Then held up by a gold gun

Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun





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Laura Marling Alas, I Cannot Swim Comments
  1. J.... P....

    This video is perfect! Laura and her music are masterpieces🖤

  2. h.... s....

    Still, I’m watching this

  3. E.... D....

    love it:)

  4. A.... S....

    simply great music

  5. n.... ....

    <3 I'm straight, but that could change if Laura Marling agreed to marry me.

  6. K.... C....

    This song completely does it for me.

    K.... C....

    You do know of course that it is derived from paedophilic Pathan poem and the original intro line is "there is a boy across the river with a bottom like a peach, but alas I cannot swim"

  7. m.... ....

    She's incredible

  8. R.... ....

    I don't know what you guys are tripping on, but that's not Winnie. Sorry buds.

    R.... ....

    Win did play with her at one point but got fired...along with Marcus and Ted...

  9. E.... G....

    TED, MARCUS AND WIN!! <3

    E.... G....

    @Erin Golden If by win you mean Winston, that's not Winston. If you just mean like WINNING then yes i agree :D

  10. J.... ....

    I'd love to  listen to Laura singing up-tempo numbers more often!

  11. T.... J....

    Is that Marcus Mumford?

    T.... J....

    Yes, yes he is, he used to play a lot with her. Also, I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the bass and the banjo are Winston Marshall and Ted Dwane from Mumford & Sons.

    T.... J....

    they used to be together..

    T.... J....

    There would be no Mumford & Sons w/o Laura Marling. They were originally her backing band. She was engaged to Marcus Mumford and when they broke up the boys ditched and made it big in America. She is an amazing talent.

  12. Z.... R....

    Nick Cave on the violin? : P

  13. F.... R....

    I love this song...what album is this song on?

  14. a.... ....

    Probably because they are in a church and feel it would be inappropriate, I'd be like fuck that let's have a hoedown!! :D

  15. A.... W....

    there is , this is part of a dvd , a exclusive dvd of this gig along with a tour diary that came along with either i speak because i can or alas i cannot swim ( not sure sorry)

  16. D.... ....

    Why in the everliving fuck is no one dancing

  17. j.... ....

    I think I just found the most amazing music video on youtube.

  18. a.... ....

    The river could drown me under

  19. w.... c....

    her voice is nicer on the recorded version

  20. s.... ....

    The "reproduced" T-shirt she wore in the Mystery Jets video <3

  21. T.... ....

    Almost 5 years and only 150,000~ views. Not enough recognition that her talent deserves.

    T.... ....

    ThePuckYu Look now they are nine years

  22. b.... d....

    Where winnie?

  23. V.... ....

    Who's the violinist?

  24. N.... M....

    its ted dwane and marcus mumford from mumford & sons in the background

  25. N.... ....

    How could one possibly stay seated during the second half of this amazing performance?? I'd be up dancing.

  26. v.... ....

    why isn't there a dvd of this awesomeness?

  27. g.... ....

    This is the best version of this song. I like this performance better than the recorded one. I love this version so much!

  28. n.... ....

    I LOVE her voice >_<

  29. m.... ....

    love how the two top comments are from the same user :D

  30. M.... ....

    I couldnt agree more!!!
    I dont know if this is perfect cause of her, or cause of them.. in any case this is pure awesomenessss!!!

  31. M.... N....

    God I love Laura Marling, especially when she plays with Mumford.

  32. H.... B....

    Why was I not sent an invitation?

  33. L.... ....

    sooo nice :). Where is this recorded? Is it a church in Goteborg?

  34. R.... S....

    @DKukiewicz I would't think so, because you have brought the album and so you are not taking anything you haven't already paid for, and you're right, this is fantastic!

  35. L.... B....

    she makes perfection look so effortless!

  36. R.... ....

    Her smile makes me smile too :)

  37. S.... B....

    @crazylizer27 Yes, it was a bonus track that came on after Your Only Doll I believe.

  38. c.... ....

    @DISASTARCAKE123 ...is there a recorded version?

  39. X.... ....

    Is the guy playing the bass from Mumford and Sons?

  40. s.... ....

    I love Laura. She's my lady crush.

  41. B.... ....

    She's incredible.

  42. g.... ....

    I really wanna learn this song even if I don't know how to play guitar

  43. k.... ....

    "Work more, earn more, live more, have more fun!!" -good life motto


  44. A.... ....

    @ivybugg Weird. I find the opposite to be true...and I'm a guy.

  45. C.... S....

    @Lafayettebluesman you and me both.

  46. a.... ....

    It's true, though. She does look a lot like Draco Malfoy.

  47. t.... ....

    I almost burst into applause with the audience at 2:04

  48. L.... ....

    Oh man, it must have been SO much fun to be there... *sigh* sometimes I wish I didn't live in America.

  49. d.... ....

    is that mumford and sons with her here,... too cool nice song

  50. d.... ....

    @damiensongs you do mean Joni Mitchell correct? I thought so as well

  51. P.... B....

    one. person. i dont even... i dont even have anything to say... wtf?

  52. d.... ....

    1st time listenening to her...nice...a little joanny in her....thanks for uploading

  53. C.... S....

    Marcus, Ted, and Winston!!

  54. H.... ....

    ...Ted has had that same shirt all these years lol.

  55. G.... C....

    ahhh she's singing about Charlie but Marcus is singing it seems so weird! ps. I love Mumford too so don't go h8n, luv it all

  56. B.... M....

    FUCK! I can't swim either!

  57. S.... ....

    @seaforthpiper I think it was based on that actually... I read this comparison somewhere else.

  58. Z.... V....

    @Bevandao hey, by the time you get a voice like hers you go right ahead and use it in whatever way you like, k?

  59. B.... ....

    sounds scottish sometimes.irish others. perhaps a personality disorder. probably a poser. SHE IS FROM READING. folk music loses it fuckin essence when you know its false. same with cumford and shuns. fake folk designed for a knee slapping good old time. its all very emotional.

  60. S.... ....

    She Should Build a boat :)

  61. j.... ....

    I agree! Love her voice -3

  62. S.... B....

    this is so much better live than recorded!

  63. U.... M....

    this is incredibly good and entertaining performance!!! i wish was there ;/

  64. C.... ....

    @angelitab19 i'm a boy and i'm straight, but i know i'm in love with Laura :)

  65. k.... ....

    @bioneek
    this song is a hidden track on Alas, I Cannot Swim,
    it's about a minute or so after "Your Only Doll (Dora)"

  66. r.... ....

    love that the highest rated comments are both expressing a man-crush or girl-crush
    have to agree completely

  67. A.... F....

    she has on the same top that in the mystery jets video.
    i fucking love her.

  68. S.... C....

    The lyrics are VERY simular to an old Pathan love song called the Zahkmi Dil (The Wounded Heart) the chorus of which goes "There's a boy across the river with a bottom like a peach, but alas I cannot swim".....Coincidence? I think not.....

    too funny.

  69. r.... H....

    in a church? WTF

  70. Q.... ....

    I really really wanna cover this song. Its so simple, yet its so difficult to sing like her....
    She has so much talent. I love her so much.

  71. A.... S....

    Oh man, as soon as Marcus joined in (singing) I was in heaven. As if it wasn't amazing enough :D

  72. M.... A....

    I love Marcus. He's my man crush.

  73. k.... ....

    i love her hair, it suits perfectly to her face. anyway, fantastic song

  74. C.... H....

    She's gorgeousl. Greetings to one and all from Jarrahnut in wonderful Western Australia. Thank you LadyPetraForsythe. You sound most regal ... are you the Queen's cousin ... or something like that?

  75. C.... H....

    Where is this place? Is it the same venue where Mumford and Sons did their Little Lion Boy video clip?

  76. N.... P....

    it's like bonus track after Your only doll. (Just keep listening after the song + forest sounds.)
    :)

  77. G.... S....

    oh somebody, already helped you...

  78. G.... S....

    it's at the end of your only doll.

  79. S.... G....

    I want that t-shirt. If I can't find one, I will actually just go mental :)

  80. C.... S....

    It's a hidden song, it comes after "Your Only Doll (Dora)"

  81. k.... ....

    just so amazing. what else is there to say?

  82. s.... ....

    i'm a girl and i'm straight, but i think i'm in love with Laura :)

  83. H.... G....

    Great video, she's so good! It's not fair
    Thanks for posting

  84. l.... b....

    this was at st pauls in london i was there :D

  85. l.... ....

    Where is this? I love Laura she's amazing!