☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a father who wants to protect his child from the seductive power of the Erlking.
- The Erlking promises the child beautiful games and colorful flowers to tempt him.
- The child becomes increasingly desperate and begs the father to protect him.
- Despite the father's efforts, he ultimately cannot prevent the death of the child.
- The song lyrics address the inevitability of fate and the transience of life.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Erlkönig" by
Franz Schubert tell the story of a father who rides in the night with his child. The child is fearful and sees the Erlkönig, a mystical figure with a crown and tail. The father tries to reassure the child and tells him that it is only a wisp of fog. But the child hears the enticing promises of the Erlkönig and asks the father to come with him.
The Erlkönig promises the child beautiful games and colorful flowers. But the father continues to try to calm the child and tells him that it is only the wind in the dry leaves. The Erlkönig becomes increasingly insistent and even threatens the child with violence if he doesn't come with him.
The child becomes increasingly desperate and asks the father to see the daughters of the Erlkönig who are coming towards him in a dark place. However, the father only sees gray willows. The child pleads with the father to protect him, but the Erlkönig grabs the child and injures him. The father rides quickly to the courtyard, but when he arrives, the child is already dead.
The lyrics of the song "Erlkönig" deal with the seductive power of death and the inevitability of fate. Despite the father's efforts to protect his child, he ultimately cannot stop death. It is a dark story that shows the mercilessness of nature and the transience of life.