I set two roses in my mother's land—
O mother, dearest mother, give me again thy hand!
I must away, I must be gone;
When to return, God knows alone!
When to return?—when the black crow
Bears on his wing plumes white as snow!

"I set two roses in my brother's land—
O brother, dearest brother, give me again thy hand!
I sit two roses in my sister's land—
O sister, dearest sister, give me again thy hand!
I must away, I must be gone;
When to return, God knows alone!
When to return?—when the black crow
Bears on his wing plumes white as snow!

"I set again two roses under a bush of yew—
O comrades, dearest playmates, I say my last adieu!
No roses shall I set more in this my native land—
O parents, brother, comrades, give me once more your hand!
I must away, I must be gone;
When to return, God knows alone!
When to return?—when the black crow
Bears on his wing plumes white as snow!

"And when I came to the dark fir-tree,
An iron kettle my father gave me;
And when I came unto the willow,
My mother she gave me a cap and a pillow.
Woe's me! but those who part can tell
How sharp the pain to say farewell!

"And when unto the bridge I came,
I turned me round and looked back again;
I saw no father nor mother more,
And I bitterly wept, for my heart was sore.
"Woe's me! but those who part can tell
How sharp the pain to say farewell!

"And when I came before the gate,
The bolt was drawn, and I must wait;
And when I came to the wooden bench,
They said, 'She's but a peevish wench!'
"Woe's me! but those who part can tell
How sharp the pain to say farewell!

"And when I came to the strangers' hearth,
They whispered, 'She is little worth';
And when I came before the bed,
I sighed, would I were yet a maid!
"Woe's me! but those who part can tell
How sharp the pain to say farewell!