Under The Willow

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