Father and Daughter (Volkslieder (Folksongs), set by P. Grainger) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Father to his daughter said:
"Is there a man you wish to wed?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Daughter to her father said:
"Never have I seen a man I wish to wed."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Tell me, who was that valiant knight
Rode away from your bower last night?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"That was never a knight so fair,
Nobody but my page-boy there."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Tell me, whose was the golden spear
Glistening in the moonshine clear?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"That was never a spear of gold,
Nothing but the rays of the moonshine cold."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Tell me, who was the valiant knight
Stood at the foot of your bed last night?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"That was never a knightly man,
Nobody but my handmaid Ann."
Alone in the forest he'e sleeping.

Blithely dance the measure,
All ye knights and swains so merrily.
Lone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Who did ever a handmaid see,
Kilted her skirts above the knee? "
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Dew falls heavy on meadow and lea;
They kilt their skirts above the knee."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Whose little babe within your bower
Did I hear crying at the midnight hour?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"That was never a babe you heard,
Nothing but the cry of my little pet bird."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Tell me, whose was the cradle white,
Standing at the foot of your bed last night?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"That was never a cradle white;
That was my loom of the silk so bright."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Forth to the woods her father did ride;
Presently the knight he there espied.
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Forth from the scabbard his sword he drew,
Hacked her lover in pieces two,
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Then he severed off the knight's fair hand,
Fastened it on to his saddle-band.
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Then he severed off the head so fair,
Tied it to the saddle by its golden hair.
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Home again the father to his garth did ride;
Presently his daughter there he espied.
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Tell me whose are the head and the hand
Dangling down from my saddle-band?"
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

"Sooner shall the waves run dry in the sea
Than that my lover unavenged shall be."
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

She kindled the house with a burning brand;
Dead lies the father at the daughter's hand,
Alone in the forest he's sleeping.

Input by Guy Laffaille

Authorship

Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961)

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE

French

Date added to the website: 2009-08-25.

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