You told me tales of love and glory
Same old sad song, same old story
Sirens sing a lullaby
And no one knows but Lorelei
Castles out of fairytales
Timbers shivered where once there sailed
The lovesick men who caught her eye
And no one knew but Lorelei
Chorus:
River, river have mercy
Take me down to the sea
For if I perish on these rocks
My love no more I'll see
I've thought of you in far-off places
I've puzzled over lipstick traces
So help me God, I will not cry
And then I think of Lorelei
I travel far and wander wide
No photograph of you beside me
Ol' Man River's not so shy
And he remembers Lorelei
chorus
If I should float upon this stream
And see you in my madman's dream
I'd sink into your troubled eyes
And none would know 'cept Lorelei
chorus
But if my ship, which sails tomorrow
Should crash against these rocks, my sorrows
I will drown before I die
It's you I'll see, not Lorelei