Out in the forest as the gold moon sets
the young knight goes riding, his hound by his side.
I walk to the window, so softly, to watch him
wishing, with sorrow, that I’d been his bride.

He stops in the moonlight and stares at my window,
as if he sees me, and holds out his hand
toward the dark stones behind which I’m hidden,
I move and the nightingale sings o’re the land

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so sweetly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau swiftly there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau merci for bringing,
bringing a song to my love.

Many days pass with my fine companion
I think of him often and it makes me smile
I dream of the darkness when I may go fleetly
off to the window to wait for a while.

My love comes riding past on a fine warhorse
I dream of joining him there at his side.
He knows that I love him though he cannot hear me
I dare not speak for my husband’s fierce pride.

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so sweetly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau swiftly there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau merci for bringing,
bringing a song to my love.

Summer has blossomed and gone in the forest
the woods are so quiet adrift with white snow
Soft as its falling I rouse from my slumber
to watch for my true love from my cold window

Snow melts to flowers, night song fills the woodlands
my heart is longing to see him again
as the dawn rises my husband awakens
and asks why my slumber is ever in vain.

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so loudly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau ever there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau wakefulness bringing,
bringing songs from above.

That will not do, says my husband so fiercely
set and determined to right perceived wrongs
he takes to the forest, his yeoman goes with him
a full score of hunters to catch its sweet songs.

from my high vantage, I watch them go flying
I pray with all goodness that my love will hide
for to live ever cast from my beloved
shall bring me a sorrow I cannot abide.

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so sweetly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau swiftly there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau merci for bringing,
bringing a song to my love.

At last, it is evening, the stars are appearing
over the greenwood, I see them come now
when they return my husband comes to me
he stands as he glowers beneath furrowed brow.

Within his hand lies a body so tiny
this delicate creature whose voice sang my love
“Here, you may take now the whole night unbreaking
without being wakened by noise from above”

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so sweetly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau swiftly there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau merci for bringing,
bringing a song to my love.

The light, feathered creature he threw hard upon me
I see its head hanging, like it I am slain.
it strikes like a stone where my own soul lay beating
leaving my white breast set red with a stain.

I took its small body and wrapped it in linen
placed in jeweled casket, my heart full sore.
this, my beloved, I have sent as my message
That you shall know why you see me no more.

ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau, so sweetly singing
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau swiftly there winging
ah l’oiseau ah l’oiseau no longer bringing,
bringing a song to my love.