The Willow Maid – English Lyrics

• By: Erutan

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the magical world of 'The Willow Maid' to explore the beauty of poetic English storytelling. This song is perfect for learners looking to master descriptive, romantic, and archaic vocabulary through a captivating narrative melody.

[English]

A young man walked through the forest

With his quiver and hunting bow

He heard a young girl singing

And followed the sound below

There he found the maiden

Who lives in the willow

He called to her as she listened

From a ring of toadstools, red

Come with me my maiden

Come from thy willow bed

She looked at him serenely

And only shook her head

See me now, a ray of light in the moon dance

See me now, I cannot leave this place

Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest

Don't ask me to follow where you lead

A young man walked through the forest

With a flower and coat of green

His love had hair like fire

Her eyes an emerald sheen

She wrapped herself in beauty

So young and so serene

He stood there under the willow

And he gave her the yellow bloom

Girl, my heart you've captured

Oh, I would be your groom

She said she'd wed him never

Not near, nor far, nor soon

See me now, a ray of light in the moon dance

See me now, I cannot leave this place

Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest

Don't ask me to follow where you lead

A young man walked through the forest

With an axe sharp as a knife

I'll take the green-eyed fairy

And she shall be my wife

With her, I'll raise my children

With her, I'll live my life

The maiden wept when she heard him

When he said he'd set her free

He took his axe and used it

To bring down her ancient tree

Now your willow's fallen

Now you belong to me

See me now (see me now, see me now) a ray of light in the moon dance

See me now (see me now, see me now) I cannot leave this place

Hear me now (hear me now, hear me now) a ray of light in the moon dance

Don't ask me (don't ask me) to follow where you lead

She followed him out of the forest

And collapsed upon the earth

Her feet had walked but a distance

From the green land of her birth

She faded into a flower

That would bloom for one bright eve

He could not take from the forest

What was never meant to leave

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
quiver /ˈkwɪv.ər/ C2	noun - A case for holding arrows
maiden /ˈmeɪ.dən/ C1	noun - A young girl or woman
willow /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ B2	noun - A type of tree with long, thin branches
toadstools /ˈtoʊd.stuːlz/ C2	noun - A poisonous mushroom
serenely /səˈriːn.li/ C1	adjective - Calm, peaceful, and untroubled
strain /streɪn/ B2	noun - A section of a piece of music or song
emerald /ˈem.ər.əld/ B2	adjective - Bright green in color
sheen /ʃiːn/ C2	noun - A soft luster or shine
bloom /bluːm/ B1	noun - A flower or blossom
captured /ˈkæp.tʃəd/ B2	verb - To gain control of something
groom /ɡruːm/ B2	noun - A man on his wedding day
wed /wed/ B2	verb - To marry
fairy /ˈfeə.ri/ B2	noun - A mythical being with magical powers
ancient /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ B1	adjective - Very old
collapsed /kəˈlæpst/ B2	verb - To fall down suddenly