This story is told from the hill to the vale
Oh, have you heard the Elven Harper?
How the plainest of plain can be beautiful still.
Oh, the Elven Harper with eyes of frost.

The Duke's second daughter was ravishing fair
Bright blue were her eyes and bright gold was her hair.
The Duke's youngest daughter had eyes like the sky,
And her hair of soft midnight made courtiers sigh.

But the Duke's eldest daughter, a spinster named Jane,
Brown hair and brown eyes, was decidedly plain
And no one would know, or would care if were told,
But plain little Jane had a voice of pure gold.

And the Elven Harper would sit on his hill
Oh, have you heard the Elven Harper?
And listen for hours to Jane's lovely trill.
Oh, the Elven Harper with eyes of frost.

Not a suitor she had, not a soul sought her hand,
But she must wed first by the law of the land!
Her two cruel sisters, impatient to wed,
Would heap bitter scorn on their plain sister's head.

One cold night they followed her right to her room,
And said, "How we wish you were dead in your tomb!"
Now Jane fled in fear through the snow and the storm,
With only her nightgown to keep herself warm.

And as her last song wailed into the night
Oh, have you heard the Elven Harper?
The Dear Harper Elf took heed of her plight.
The Elven Harper with eyes of frost.

He sent out a troop of his own Elven Guard
To search out the land, though the storm pressed them hard.
They brought her before him as frozen as stone,
But with kisses he warmed her and made her his own.

Now, Jane disappeared in that storm, it is said,
And both the Duke's daughters are certain she's dead
But if you should chance near a wild Elven hill,
You'll find that the Elf-folk are dancing there still.

And the music they dance to is sung and it's played
Oh, have you heard the Elven Harper?
By the blind Harper Elf, and his dear mortal Maid.
Oh, the Elven Harper with eyes of frost.

author unknown