The poor miller's daughter longed for her groom
Not to be a wed a moment too late
But he had a dark heart and a plan for her doom
Listen lest ye should befall the same fate
A bright Sunday morn with a chill in the wind
The girl set out for her bethrothed's home
Suspecting his heart may be full of sin
She scattered peas on the trail of loam
In a forest so dark stood a house so grim
Which is to where the girl had been lured
Approaching the door came a cry from within
A warning from the wise caged bird
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
The girl wandered the house and came to the cellar
Where stood alone an old hag and a pot
Shaking and solemn the woman did tell her
Of the evil bridegroom's terrible plot
Ah you poor child, what a place to come, what a fate to fall upon ye
Think yourself a wife, but it is with death, that comes your marriage feast
See this cauldron, that I keep aflame, they've trapped me and kept me inside
The men come soon, and poison with wine, for they feast upon bride
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
We must escape, tonight's our chance, trust me and do not ask
Keep still as a mouse, do not move or speak, stay hidden behind this cask
When the crew return, we drug them asleep, and run away from this hell
Go back to your father, the one you can trust, and this story you tell
As the words left her lips the men returned
Dragging a young girl along by her hair
Gave red white wine as the fire burned
But yellow sealed the maiden's nightmare
Cut into pieces her flesh devoured
Her ringed finger slid to the cask
But the old woman's drug had them overpowered
The man searching for never finished his task
The girl stole the finger as the men lay asleep
By grace of God they did not kill her
The old woman followed her from murderer's keep
Ran by the peas back home to the miller
The day came around that the two should be wed
Of banks and camels talked the guests of whales
The groom asked the bride what she had to be said
So she stood up told the table her tale
My darling, this is only a dream
In a forest so dark stood a house so grim
Which is to where the girl had been lured
Approaching the door came a cry from within
A warning from the wise caged bird
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair
Linger not in this murderer's lair
My darling, this is only a dream
The girl wandered the house and came to the cellar
Where stood alone an old hag over a pot
Shaking and solemn the woman did tell her
Of the evil bridegroom's terrible plot
As the words left her lips the men returned
Dragging a young girl along by her hair
Gave red white wine as the fire burned
But yellow sealed the maiden's nightmare
My darling, this is only a dream
Cut into pieces her flesh devoured
Her ringed finger slid to the cask
But the old woman's drug had them overpowered
The man searching for never finished his task
The girl stole the finger as the men lay asleep
By grace of God they did not linger
The old woman followed her from the murderer's keep
And here, my guests, is that very same finger
My darling, you know this is more than a dream
