Water Lanes

Stone by stone the island breathes,
Winding paths beneath the trees,
Where voices echo, soft and clear,
Stories flow, the past is near.

Down the water lanes we wander,
Hidden streams that pull us under,
Whispers run through moss and rain,
Hearts are tied to the water lanes.

Footsteps trace the cobbled ground,
Ancient roads where love was found,
Morning light and evening tide,
Carry dreams the lanes still hide.

Down the water lanes we wander,
Hidden streams that pull us under,
Whispers run through moss and rain,
Hearts are tied to the water lanes.

Echoes of Guernsey’s timeworn song,
Every step we walk along,
Past and present weave the same,
In the silence of the lane.

Down the water lanes we wander,
Shadows fade but roots grow stronger,
Carry love through sun and rain,
We belong to the water lanes

Water Lanes – A Song of Guernsey’s Hidden Paths

If you’ve ever walked through one of Guernsey’s water lanes, you’ll know they’re not just shortcuts or pretty walkways. They’re living threads of our island’s history, winding between fields, cottages, and stone walls that have stood for centuries. The song “Water Lanes” captures that spirit beautifully – it’s as much about memory as it is about place.

A Pathway Through Time

The opening verse sets the tone perfectly:

“Stone by stone the island breathes,
Winding paths beneath the trees,
Where voices echo, soft and clear,
Stories flow, the past is near.”

These aren’t just words on a page. Anyone who’s paused in the stillness of a shaded lane, where the air is damp with moss and the walls hold the sound of footsteps, knows that sense of being close to the past.

The Heart of the Chorus

The chorus lifts into something almost timeless:

“Down the water lanes we wander,
Hidden streams that pull us under,
Whispers run through moss and rain,
Hearts are tied to the water lanes.”

It’s true – our lanes don’t just connect parishes, they connect people. They carry the whispers of childhood adventures, of lovers walking hand-in-hand, of farmers heading home after a day in the fields. They bind us to each other and to the land itself.

Footsteps and Echoes

The second verse brings it even closer to home:

“Footsteps trace the cobbled ground,
Ancient roads where love was found,
Morning light and evening tide,
Carry dreams the lanes still hide.”

It reminds me of stories told by older islanders – of meeting sweethearts at hidden corners, of finding solace in these quiet paths during hard times. The lanes have held laughter, secrets, even grief, and yet they remain constant, carrying those dreams forward.

Past and Present Entwined

The bridge is my favourite part:

“Echoes of Guernsey’s timeworn song,
Every step we walk along,
Past and present weave the same,
In the silence of the lane.”

That’s Guernsey in a nutshell – past and present flowing together, never separate. Walking a water lane today feels the same as it might have a hundred years ago. You sense the continuity, the roots, the belonging.

Why Water Lanes Matters

This song isn’t just about pretty footpaths. It’s about identity. It’s about how Guernsey’s landscape holds our stories, and how even the smallest paths can carry the weight of love, memory, and belonging.

When the final chorus closes with:

“Carry love through sun and rain,
We belong to the water lanes”

– it feels like a reminder. That no matter where life takes us, part of us will always be tied to these quiet, stone-lined paths that have shaped generations of island life.