这首闻名遐迩的歌曲，是根据诗人威廉·巴特勒·叶芝的同名诗歌〈Down By the Salley Garden〉谱曲而成，最初翻译为《柳园里》，是叶芝早年的诗作。他的早年诗歌韵律优美，感情细腻，辞藻华丽，象征意味浓郁，明显受到英国浪漫主义和法国象征主义诗歌的影响。《来到柳园》原名为《旧歌新唱》 。叶芝曾为此诗作过下列注释:"这首诗是根据斯莱戈县巴利索戴尔村里一个经常独自吟唱的老农妇记不完全的三行旧歌词改写而成的"。
Down by the Salley Gardens
来到柳园
William ButlerYeats
威廉·巴特勒·叶芝
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
在莎莉花园深处，吾爱与我曾经相遇。
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
她穿越莎莉花园，以雪白的小脚。
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
她嘱咐我要爱得轻松，当新叶在枝桠萌芽。
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
但我当年年幼无知，不予轻率苟同。
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
在河边的田野，吾爱与我曾经驻足。
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
她依靠在我的肩膀，以雪白的小手。
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
她嘱咐我要活得轻松，当青草在堤岸滋长。
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
但我当年年幼无知，而今热泪盈眶。
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
斯遇佳人，仙苑重深
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
玉人雪趾，往渡穿林
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
瞩我适爱，如叶逢春
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
我愚且顽，负此明言
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
斯水之畔，与彼曾伫
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
比肩之处，玉手曾拂
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
嘱我适世，如荇随堰
But I was young and foolish, and now I am full of tears.
惜我愚顽，唯余泣叹!
