Der Erlkönig [English translation]

Who's riding so late where winds blow wild

It is the father with his child

He holds the boy well in his arm

He clasps him snugly, he keeps him warm

He keeps him warm

"My son, why do you cover your face in fear?"

"Don't you see the elf-king, father?

The king of the elves with crown and tail?"

"My son, it is a stripe of mist.

A stripe of mist"

"Sweet child, come and join me

Such pretty games I will play with you

A many colourful flowers are at the beach

My mother has many garments of gold"

"My father, my father, can you not hear

The promise the elf-king breathes in my ear?"

"Be calm, stay calm, my child

In arid leaves the wind is whispering"

"Will you, sweet lad, come along with me?

My daughters shall care for you tenderly

In the night my daughters lead the round dance

They'll rock and dance you and sing you to sleep"

"My father, my father, don't you see over there

The elf-king's daughters in a gloomy place?"

"My son, I see it clear

How grey the ancient willows appear"

"I love you, your comeliness charms me

And if you're not willing, force I'll employ"

"My father, my father, now he's seizing my arm

Elf-king has done me a cruel harm"

The father shudders, his ride is wild,

In his arms he's holding the groaning child,

Reaches the court with toil and dread

The child he held in his arms was dead

"I love you, your comeliness charms me

And if you're not willing, force I'll employ"

"Sweet child, come and join me

Such pretty games I will play with you

A many colourful flowers are at the beach

My mother has many garments of gold"

• Artist:Achim Reichel
• Album:Wilder Wassermann (2002)