O, as I was all a-walking in my valley so sweet,
The sun, it kissed my hair, and the grass, it kissed my feet.
And the birds were sweetly singing, and my heart was full of glee:
For the unicorn was dancing, and the unicorn was me.
O gone is the fairest flower, the lily of the vale:
Don’t ye weep, but come ye closer and listen to my tale.
Lovely maiden lay a-sleeping, o a princess she was born,
Fairer than the fairest flower, in her lap, I laid my horn,
And I fell asleep beside her to protect her from the night
And was sleeping when the hunters to my valley they did ride.
O gone is the fairest flower, the lily of the vale:
Don’t ye weep, but come ye closer and listen to my tale.
O I knew not much of hatred, and I knew not much of greed,
all I knew I was in danger, so I stumbled to my feet.
But their weapons were cold iron, cold and black as was their heart,
and they’d come for naught but killing: From my horn, they wished me part.
O gone is the fairest flower, the lily of the vale:
Don’t ye weep, but come ye closer and listen to my tale.