ALAS I CANNOT SWIM

Laura Marling

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Writing on Substack, Marling said she performed this song at the funeral of a family friend because it was he who introduced her to the line that inspired it: "...it was he who introduced me to the great line from the original Pashto poem - 'there’s a boy across the river with an arse like a peach, but alas, I cannot swim'." The line has (perhaps falsely) been attributed to Pashto poet Khushal Khan Khattak. (The attribution is disputed by Dr. Nafees Ur Rehman.)

Spanish Translation at lyricstranslate.com

LYRICS

Theres a house across the river
But alas i cannot swim
and a garden of such beauty that the flowers seem to grin
theres a house across the river
but alas i cannot swim
I'll live my life regretting that i never jumped in

theres a boy across the river
with short black curly hair
he wants to be my lover and i want to be his peer
theres a boy across the river
but alas i cannot swim
i never will get to put my arms around him.

theres a life across the river
that was meant for me
instead i live my life in constant misery
theres a light 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 a dry then held up by a golden 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