It's You I'll See, Not Lorelei

One of my favorite songs - and one of my favorite artists!

Illustration by Arthur Rackham

You told me tales of love and glory
Same old sad songs, same old story
The sirens sing no lullaby
And no one knows but Lorelei
By castles out of fairy tales
Timbers shivered where once there sailed
The lovesick men who caught her eye
And no one knew but Lorelei

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

River, river have mercy
Take me down to the sea
For if I perish on these rocks
My love no more I'll see
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

River, river, river have mercy
Take me down to the sea
For if I perish on these rocks
My love no more I'll see
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
 
(music and lyrics: Phil Chevron of The Pogues)