wer reitet so spt durch nacht und wind es ist der vater mit seinem kind er hat den knaben wohl in dem arm er fat ihn sicher er hlt ihn warm mein sohn was birgst du so bang dein gesicht siehst vater du den erlknig nicht den erlenknig mit kron und schweif mein sohn es ist ein nebelstreif du liebes kind komm geh mit mir gar schne spiele spiel ich mit dir manch bunte blumen sind an dem strand meine mutter hat manch glden gewand mein vater mein vater und hrest du nicht was erlenknig mir leise verspricht sei ruhig bleibe ruhig mein kind in drren blttern suselt der wind willst feiner knabe du mit mir gehn meine tchter sollen dich warten schn meine tchter fhren den nchtlichen reihn und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein mein vater mein vater und siehst du nicht dort erlknigs tchter am dstern ort mein sohn mein sohn ich seh es genau es scheinen die alten weiden so grau ich liebe dich mich reizt deine schne gestalt und bist du nicht willig so brauch ich gewalt mein vater mein vater jetzt fat er mich an erlknig hat mir ein leids getan dem vater grauset s er reitet geschwind er hlt in armen das chzende kind erreicht den hof mit mhe und not in seinen armen das kind war tot  who rides so late through night and wind it is the father with his child he has the boy well in his arm he holds him safely he keeps him warm my son why do you hide your face in fear father do you not see the elf king the elf king with crown and cape my son it is a streak of fog you dear child come go with me beautiful games i play with you many colorful flowers are on the beach my mother has many a golden robe my father my father and do you not hear what the elf king quietly promises me be calm stay calm my child through dry leaves the wind is sighing do you fine boy want to go with me my daughters shall wait on you finely my daughters lead the nightly dance and rock and dance and sing to bring you in my father my father and don t you see there the elf king s daughters in the gloomy place my son my son i see it clearly there shimmer the old willows so grey i love you your beautiful form excites me and if you re not willing then i will use force my father my father he s touching me now the elf king has done me harm it horrifies the father he swiftly rides on he holds the moaning child in his arms reaches the farm with great difficulty in his arms the child was dead who rides there so late through the night dark and drear the father it is with his infant so dear he holdeth the boy tightly clasp d in his arm he holdeth him safely he keepeth him warm my son wherefore seek st thou thy face thus to hide look father the erl king is close by our side dost see not the erl king with crown and with train my son tis the mist rising over the plain oh come thou dear infant oh come thou with me for many a game i will play there with thee on my strand lovely flowers their blossoms unfold my mother shall grace thee with garments of gold my father my father and dost thou not hear the words that the erl king now breathes in mine ear be calm dearest child tis thy fancy deceives tis the sad wind that sighs through the withering leaves wilt go then dear infant wilt go with me there my daughters shall tend thee with sisterly care my daughters by night their glad festival keep they ll dance thee and rock thee and sing thee to sleep my father my father and dost thou not see how the erl king his daughters has brought here for me my darling my darling i see it aright tis the aged grey willows deceiving thy sight i love thee i m charm d by thy beauty dear boy and if thou rt unwilling then force i ll employ my father my father he seizes me fast for sorely the erl king has hurt me at last the father now gallops with terror half wild he grasps in his arms the poor shuddering child he reaches his courtyard with toil and with dread the child in his arms finds he motionless dead1