[Verse 1]
Arthur's hall is mantled in the carded fleece of winter
Guinevere sits veiled in her own thoughts
Arthur laughs, but beneath the crown his hair is turning grey
And by the fire, Merlin spends his days

[Verse 2]
The portal opens and a maid as fair as apple blossoms
Enters in as all rise to their feet
Many knights stand in vain attempts to win her first attention
And by the fire, Merlin sits and waits

[Chorus]
Hawthorn tree
Your body burns away the winter's cold
Stand by me
And shade me from the sun
My eyes are old, but still can see

[Verse 3]
Threading through as though they were the golden fields of summer
Maiden and sage meet within the light
'I have come for your power, and my name is Vivianne.'
And by the fire, Merlin knows his fate

[Verse 4]
From that day, no moment passed when they were not together
She grew in strength, as waning his grew dim
Arthur's court wondered if love or enchantment held them bound
The strange desire of Merlin and the maid
[Chorus]
Hawthorn tree
Your body burns away the winter's cold
Stand by me
And shade me from the sun
My eyes are old, but still can see

[Verse 5]
Then they left, as autumn's leaves upon the moving water
Camelot failed to solve the mystery
Seasons passed, and a woodsman came from distant Lyonesse
Who knew the fate of Merlin and the maid

[Verse 5]
He had seen a maiden fairer still than apple blossoms
And an elderly man walking hand in hand
They embraced, and when they parted there was only Vivianne
And one more tree was standing in the glade

[Chorus]
Hawthorn tree
Your body burns away the winter's cold
Stand by me
And shade me from the sun
My eyes are old, but still can see
My eyes are old, but still can see
My eyes are old, but still can see