Verse I Beneath the boughs of silver mist, Where Eden’s shadow’d fruit is kiss’d, A stranger walks in raiment white, A soul unblemish’d by the night. The orchard gate swings wide for him, The air grows dark, the light grows dim. A shadow comes with horns of jet, To claim the price of sin and debt. Chorus O, crimson fruit on branches high, Beneath the pale and watchful sky, The demon waits to hear his plea, To take the soul and set it free. But silver chains of fate are spun, The trap is set, the deed is done, For what is bought with blood and pain, Must be repaid in kind again. Verse II The fiend draws near with eyes of flame, And whispers low the mortal’s name. "One wish I grant, one boon I give, If thou wilt cease to purely live. Give me thy heart, thy spotless grace, And I shall grant thee time and space." But the youth stood still, nor spoke a word, No craving in his bosom stirr'd. Chorus O, crimson fruit on branches high, Beneath the pale and watchful sky, The demon waits to hear his plea, To take the soul and set it free. But silver chains of fate are spun, The trap is set, the deed is done, For what is bought with blood and pain, Must be repaid in kind again. Verse III The demon paused, his clawed hand shook, He read the youth like an open book. "What wish is this? What empty breast? Where all desires are laid to rest? I cannot leave this hallowed ground, Till thy heart's deepest wish is found. I am ensnared by my own might, A prisoner of the endless night." Verse IV So days they passed in silence deep, While shadows learn’d to softly weep. The fiend beheld the mortal’s face, And found in him a strange, new grace. The youth beheld the demon’s pain, And saw a man beneath the chain. No words of lust, no threats of hell, But two lost souls in a silent spell. Chorus O, crimson fruit on branches high, Beneath the pale and watchful sky, The demon waits to hear his plea, To take the soul and set it free. But silver chains of fate are spun, The trap is set, the deed is done, For what is bought with blood and pain, Must be repaid in kind again. Verse V At last the youth did raise his eyes, Beneath the cold and misty skies. "I have no want for gold or land, Nor power held in mortal hand. My only wish, my only plea, Is that thou mightest cease to be This monster born of ancient strife, And taste the sweetness of a life." Verse VI The demon wept a single tear, The first he'd shed in many a year. The horns did fade, the shadow fled, A mortal man stood there instead. The curse was broke, the debt was paid, The ancient, weary demon swayed. For love had bought what gold could not, The human soul that God forgot. Final Chorus O, crimson fruit on branches high, Beneath the pale and watchful sky, No more the fiend shall wait and plea, For love has set the captive free. The chains of fate are torn in two, A heart of black is born anew, And in the orchard, side by side, Two mortal souls in peace abide.
