The Erl-King (Steve Gillette) from The poem by Goethe Who rides through the night so dark and wild? The father rides with his own fearful child. The boy he holds so close in his arms He guards him safely, he keeps him warm. Why do you hide your face as in fear? Father, don't you see, the Erl King is here? He calls to me with a crown and a shroud No, my son, that's nothing but a passing cloud. The Erl King beckons to the terrified boy, You must come with me. I'll give you jewels and wealth untold, You'll walk in robes of bright and shining gold. Father, father, do you not hear The Erl King whispering low in my ear. Hush now and rest ye, it's nothing my child But the trees in the night wind playing their melody wild. The Erl King says, oh, come with me And my own fair daughters will wait on thee. A heavenly vigil o'er your cradle they'll keep And tenderly sing and rock you to sleep. Father, father, see them there The Erl King's daughters with bright shining hair. No, my son, there are no fair maids Nothing but the willow that wave in the glade. Clutching the reins in his trembling hands With pain and dispair that he can't understand. Alone on the road with the stars overhead Fearful and hopeless, the boy in his arms is dead. To the trees in the nightwind he cries aloud He seeks out the face of death in every passing cloud Down in the meadow where the boys grave is laid Nothing but the willow that wave in the glade. Nothing but the willow that wave in the glade. Copyright 1966, Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP, Used by permission SG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!