Merina's Lament

Take my hand.
Never let me go.
I want you to know
I love you so.

Don't go away
Until this night is over.
Don't go away
Until the crickets' song ends.
Don't go away
I don't want to lose you.
Never let me go.

Everything they've taken from me:
Father, mother, sister, brother;
Now they want to take you too.
Don't go away;
Don't leave me alone.

Promise me now
That you'll always remember.
Promise me now
That you will never forget.
Promise me now
That you'll always love me.
Never let me go.

They want me to love another,
But I know I love only you.
They want me to give to him
What I will only give to you.

Take my hand
Until this night is over,
Until the burning sunlight comes;
Until they force me at last to leave you,
To take a place I never chose.

Take my hand until that hour
That I have dreaded all my life.
Wait with me till that time comes;
Till I belong
To someone else.

Take my hand.
Never let me go.
I want you to know
I love you so.

Never let me go.