The song of the Lord of Falkenstein

There rides the Lord of Falkenstein

Over a broad heath.

What does he see standing in the road?

A maiden in a white dress.

"God greet you, Lord of Falkenstein!

If you are the lord of this land,

Then give me back my imprisoned lover

For the honor of all maidens!"

The prisoner I will not free,

In the tower he must rot!

At Falkenstein there stands a deep tower

Between two high walls.

"If there stands at Falkenstein a deep tower

Between two high walls,

Then I will stand by the walls

And help my lover grieve."

She went around the tower over and over again:

"Darling, are you within?

If I cannot see you,

I will lose my mind."

She went around the tower over and over again,

Hoping to unlock it:

"If the night were a year long,

Not an hour of it would vex me!

"Oh, if I were allowed to carry a sharp knife,

Like our lord's knights,

Then would I fight with the Lord of Falkenstein

To free my heart's favorite!"

I will not fight with a maiden,

For it would shame me!

I will give you my prisoner,

But you must leave the land with him.

"Leave the land for good I will not,

Neither of us has stolen anything.

And if I have left anything behind,

Then I may come back to retrieve it."