[Verse 1] Down by the ford where the rushes grow tall, They say there’s a stripe-backed devil that calls. He cranks a wheel and the strings all weep, And the milk turns sour, and the babes don’t sleep. Oh the lasses go down with their hair unbound, When they hear that droning, mournful sound— They dance with hooves where the moonlight glows, And the stream runs red ‘til the rooster crows! [Chorus] Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe! Brayin' so low by the river’s side! He’ll sing you sweet and make you blunder, Black and white, he'll drag you under! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Water Horse waitin' for his wife! [Verse 2] He hums of grace and the gates of gold, But the river keeps what the preachers sold. He hums of love that was too soon torn, And the women sigh like hyenas scorned. He hums of fire that froze too fast, Of the days ahead and the ones long past— And the children stare with stillborn eyes Of the fish that float when the current dies. [Chorus] Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe! Brayin' so low by the river’s side! He’ll sing you sweet and make you blunder, Black and white, he'll drag you under! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Water Horse waitin' for his wife! [Bridge] They say if you’re pure, he’ll let you go. They say if you’re wicked, he’ll make you bloat. But I’ve seen the hoofprints on the banks, And this filthy old pervert never sank! [Verse 3] The washer-wives whisper and the ferrymen swear, They’ve seen his stripes in the lightning’s glare. A ghost with a grin and a horse’s eyes, Sings of sorrow that never dies. He don’t want gold, he don’t want sin— He just wants someone to listen to him. So if you hear that wheel start to stutter, Pray the river don’t pull you under! [Chorus] Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe! Brayin' so low by the river’s side! He’ll sing you sweet and make you blunder, Black and white, he'll drag you under! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Water Horse waitin' for his wife! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— If you see him, run for your life! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Equine devil in black and white! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Brindled banshee cryin' in the night! Hey! Hey! The Näckenstripe— Water Horse waitin' for his wife!
