The Erl-King
The Lyrics...

Words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

English version by Natalia Macfarren

 

Narrator:

Who rides through the night o'er woodland wild?
It is a father with his young child.
The boy lies folded close in his arm,
He holds him steady and safe from harm.

Father: My son, thou hidest thy face as in fear?
Son:

The Erl-king father see he is near,
With crown and sceptre, and snow-white shroud.

Father: My son, ‘tis but a passing cloud.
Erl-king:

My gentle boy, oh come with me,
I'll sport and play the day long with thee,
And wondrous flowers shalt thou behold,
And a garment shalt thou wear all of gold.

Son:

My father, my father, oh dost thou not hear
What Erl-king whispers so soft in mine ear?

Father:

Nay, fear not, it is nothing, my child,
The leaves but rustle sharp o'er wild.

Erl-king:

Thou gentle boy, wilt thou with me go?
My daughters all pretty pastimes know,
My daughters nightly their gay revels keep,
They'll dance and they'll sing and they'll rock thee to sleep,
they'll dance and they'll sing and they'll rock thee to sleep.

Son:

My father, my father, I feel sore afraid,
See Erl-king's daughters in yon dark shade!

Father:

My son, my son I see it full well,
The grey knotted willows bend to the gale.

Erl-king:

I love thee, child, in vain wouldst thou now be perverse,
For if thou'rt are not willing I'll take thee by force.

Son:

My father, my father, his cold hand I feel!
Erl-king has hurt me, with grasp strong as steel.

Narrator:

The Father shudd'ring gives spur to his steed,
Holds fast his darling, and groans in his need,
He reach'd his home in doubt and dread,
Within his fond arms the child lay dead.

The Erl-king
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