Clara did not sing again for many days. But she was a happy child and soon she began to sing again. So finally her father said to her:

Child, three times I have asked you not to sing yet still you sing. For your disobedience I will punish you that you never sing again.

With that he seized his axe and cut her head off. He buried her body and head under the great tree in the yard. Then he said:

Disobedient child, you will not disturb me again with your song.

The next morning, the woodcutter awoke at dawn. A bird sat on his window sill and it sang this song:

You may cut off my head,
you may strike me dead,
but I will return on the wing,
for you to hear me sing.

The woodcutter became afraid and leaped at the bird to catch it, but it flew away.

The next morning, the woodcutter awoke at dawn. Again, a bird sat on his window sill and it sang this song:

You may cut off my head,
you may strike me dead,
but I will return on the wing,
for you to hear me sing.