This humorous song is a bit more dramatic in scale than many of Mozart's other songs, closer

to the ariette Dans un Bois Solitaire or even some of the concert arias than to the simple,

folk-like songs that make up a large part of Mozart's lieder.

Mock-ominous chords from the piano open the composition, and the opening, "Maidens, flee

Damotas!" sets the slightly hysterical mood. The vocal melody is agitated and restless, and the

piano alternates fast, almost breathless runs with quick chords like a thumping heartbeat.

The text is coy, as a girl warns her friends to beware of Demotas, who must surely be a magician,

as he was able to make her feel so strange, and follow him. Each verse ends "trust me, he has

to be a magician!" The piano repeats this line, creating an effect almost like a chorus of

girls repeating this news. The story goes on, he took her hand, led her to a secluded place,

and then...her mother came by. The girl solemnly assures her listeners that it was fortunate

that her mother came by, but the music is still excited, and apparently quite pleasantly so,

leaving the listeners with no doubt that the "strange feelings, such a sweet pain" were far more

welcome than not.

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