[Verse] She walks along the riverbank as night begins to fall In a gown as white as fresh-fallen snow, headed to a ball She turns to face the moonlight and gives a wicked smile Her teeth are black as midnight, a creature dark and vile [Chorus] Oh, the river runs deep, and the water runs cold With a terrible secret that's never been told Beware of the maiden dressed in all white Who hides in the dark of the moonlit night [Verse 2] He steps out from the willow trees to take her by the hand The sweetest maid he thinks he's found in all the mountain land But as he looks into her eyes, the freezing water chills And not a soul will hear him cry across the lonely hills [Chorus] Oh, the river runs deep, and the water runs cold With a terrible secret that's never been told Beware of the maiden dressed in all white Who hides in the dark of the moonlit night [Instrumental Break] (The banjo and fiddle take off at a driving, frantic pace here, mimicking the rushing river and the panic of the trap closing in.) [Verse 3] She steps into the rushin' stream without a splash or sound The pale white silk begins to float, as she leaves the muddy ground The river claims its wicked bride beneath the heavy foam And any man who follows her in, will never find his way home [Chorus] Oh, the river runs deep, and the water runs cold With a terrible secret that's never been told Beware of the maiden dressed in all white Who hides in the dark of the moonlit night [Instrumental Break] (The banjo and fiddle take off at a driving, frantic pace here, mimicking the rushing river and the panic of the trap closing in.) [Verse 4] So bypass the quiet riverbank when dusk is growing late Avoid the girl in snowy white who waits beyond the gate For if you catch her wicked smile beneath the starry skies You’ll feel the cold and bitter truth behind her sweet disguise [Outro] The morning sun comes creeping up to dry the muddy shore But the man who walked the riverbank is seen alive no more She washes out her snowy gown beneath the willow tree And smiles a pitch-black smile as she waits for you and me
