A mother came while stars were paling,

wailing round a lonely spring
Thus she cried, as tears were falling,

calling on the fairy king.

Who would spoil a mother’s treasure,

courting him with fairy joy?
Why destroy a mother’s blessing?

Why for steal my baby boy?

O’er the mountains, through the wild wood,

where in childhood he longed to play
Where the flowers are freshly springing,

there I wander day by day.

There I wander, growing fonder

of the child that made my joy
And the echoes while recalling —

please restore my baby boy.

But in vain my plaintive calling;

tears are falling all in vain
He now sports with fairy treasure —

he’s the pleasure of their train.

So fare thee well, my child forever!

In this world I’ve lost my joy
In the next we ne’er shall sever!

There I’ll find my baby boy.

So fare thee well, my child forever!

In this world I’ve lost my joy
In the next we ne’er shall sever!

There I’ll find my baby boy.