Let the sun gather round my shoulders
And I will forget my loss
For I had a child
Whose skin was soft as summer
As I laid her down for sleep
But she says,
"Father don't leave me
My dreams have turned to black"
Listen here, my only daughter, closely
And you can sleep in peace
For I have strong hands
And a cautious eye for danger
So you can sleep in peace
But she says,
"Father don't leave me
My skin has turned to white"
Listen here, my only daughter, closely,
And you can sleep in peace
For my house is warm
From the winds that blow so coldly
So you can sleep in peace
But she says,
"Father stay closely
My heart, it's cold like stone"
My daughter sleeps
But she will not be dreaming
Her breathing grows so weak
My heart tears the skin
A bird has lost its feathers
My hands, they grow so weak
The moon rises over my apartment
but I can't look fondly on
Let the earth gather round my daughter
And I will forget my loss
For I had a child
Whose skin was soft as summer
As I laid her down for sleep