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"