" O sailor of the sea!
O sing a song to me! "
" Come up into my boat, my dear,
And all my singing thou shalt hear. "
She climbs into the sailor's barque;
He falls to singing like a lark.
Five hundred miles he sails along,
Singing always the same song.
When at last the singing dies,
For her home the maiden cries.

" We have sailed so long to-day,
Thy father's house is far away. "
" Think of my dear mother's pain
If I do not come again. "
" Think no longer of thy mother,
Think of me and of no other. "

Soon comes on the midnight deep,
And 't is time to go to sleep.

" Sweet, put by thy shoes and gown,
And to sleep we will lie down. "
" But this lace is bound so strong,
To undo it will take long.
O brave sailor of the sea,
Will you lend your sword to me?
Lend me, gentle youth, your sword,
So that I may cut this cord. "
His bright sword, the sailor lent it;
Deep into her heart she sent it.

" May the sword accursed be,
And the hand that gave it thee!
Living, I did not kiss thee, dear;
See how I kiss thy dead face here! "

He took her by her hands so fair;
Into the sea he cast her there.
(O flower of the water! Flower of the sea!)