I found the following lyrics and translation in the “Rise Up Singing” songbook, published by the folks at “Sing Out.” I’m going to try and type the umlauts, but if they don’t show up hopefully things will still make sense.

DIE LORELEI

Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten, dass ich so traurig bin
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten, das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn
Die Luft is kühl und es dunkelt, und ruhig fliesst der Rhein
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt im Abendsonnenschein

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzt dort oben wunderbar
Ihr gold’nes Geschmeide blitzt, sie kåmmt ihr goldenes Haar
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme, und singt ein Lied dabei
Das hat eine wundersame, gewaltige Melodei

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe, ergreift es mit wildem Weh
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe, er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh!
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen am Ende Schiffer und Kahn
Und das hat met ihrem Singen, die Lorelei getan

Translation by Varda Piper:

I know not the cause of my sorrow & yet it conquers me.
An ancient tale floats from nowhere into my memory.
The air is cool at evening & calmly flows the Rhine
The crest of the hilltop glimmers as the last of the sun’s rays shine.

The wondrously beautiful maiden is sitting above me there.
Her golden bracelets flash as she combs her golden hair.
She combs it with a comb of gold & sings a melody.
It has the seeds of magic, the song she sings to me.

The passing sailor in his boat is seized with wild grief.
His gaze is held by the hilltop, he sees not the threatening reef.
The waves have swallowed him, I know, to keep him in their depths.
The Lorelei with her magic song has lured him to his death.

The songbook lists this as traditional, so I appreciate the above comment about a specific poet whose work the lyrics may be. Sorry for any mistakes in my typing, but my knowledge of German is distant and weak and I might not have caught errors. I also wonder how “good” this singable English translation is...Maybe someone better versed can tell. My expertise in mermaid songs is limited to a handful of songs in Scots Gaelic and Broad Scots. My idea of the ultimate songbook would be an international and exhaustive collection of songs about mermaids and water and dryads and trees!

An beannachd leit (blessings...)