Deep in the woodlands by the dying of light Walked a runaway girl lost in the night Haunted by nightmares but filled with regret While looking for safety with sorrow she met The muddy ground turned to moss beds as she strayed from the path In a circle of mushrooms stumbling down to the grass Little girl that she was tried to find her way back But every path led her to a willow instead A willow so grand it reached up to the clouds And under its branches, shelter she found Ladadada di dada dai dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai da For a while she just laid there curled up under the tree And though a cold wind was howling, she felt somehow at ease Soon the hours became days, and the days became weeks She got used to the quiet, to the rustling of leaves Every once in a while she could feel her gaze roam To the edge of the meadow, to the darkness unknown Watching shimmering figures past the edge of the trees Dancing free as the vines wandering in the breeze And her fear turned to wonder gazing at the display As her feet ran to join them, dancing the night away Soon death became her lover, sorrow her friend She would dance with her demons till the night was at end Ladadada di dada dai dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai dada dai da Ladadada di dada dai da And often she thought still of a world past the woods But every way that she'd wandered brought her back where she'd stood The nights became longer, the days but a blur The dryads turned monstrous at the mention of her Till one day a figure from the ever dark sky Appeared before the girl and spoke a last warning cry You so fear the dark that you never thread further But the shackles that chain you are of your own making The willow may shield you but it isn't your home Its roots will not mourn you when you return to the soil So the specter had spoken, and the girl had despaired As it made to turn from her, she reached out a hand Tell me, what do I do? Lead me out of this place Tell me, where do I go? Lead me away Lead me astray The figure turned towards her as the girl recognized The familiar face beholding her sight She reached for her hand, fingers trembling in the breeze Pleading and begging, she fell to her knees I cannot leave here, for I dare not go back The figure merely spoke: Then onwards instead? For a moment she lingered, looking back to the tree Could she truly start over, could she finally be free? But she pressed through the fears, as she reached through the greens And never again did the willow haunt her dreams