Roger the Miller

Young Roger the miller came courting of late,
To a farmer's fine daughter called beautiful Kate;
She had for her fortune a many fine things
Beautiful silks and gold, diamonds and rings.
Her father he gave her a neat plot of ground
She had also a fortune, she'd also a fortune of five hundred pounds.

When the money and the supper, they both were laid down,
Well it was a great sight to see five hundred pound,
The sight of that money and beauty likewise
Made Roger's heart greedy and dazzled his eyes
He said "Now that your daughter and money is here,
Tis I will not have her, tis I will not have her Without that grey mare."

Then the money and supper were taken from sight,
And likewise young Kathy, his own heart's delight.
And Roger was taken and shown out the door
And ordered not for [bad word] there any more,
Twas then he did tear at his long yellow hair
Sayin' "I wish I had never, I wish I had never spoke of that grey mare."

Now it was when six months they were over and past
And Roger the miller he met with this lass.
"I think I do know you then, madam" said he,
"I am the same way with you, sir" said she,
"man with your features with fine yellow hair,
Oh, he once came a-courting, he once came a-courting my father's grey mare."

"Well it was not a-courting the gray mare I came,
By you my own jewel, my Kathy by name,
I thought that your father would never dispute
To give me the grey mare with you to boot,
And not to risk lose such a dutiful son,
Oh it's now I am sorry, it's now I am sorry for what I have done."

"For your sorrow, young Roger, I have little regard,
For there's plenty of men in this town to be had.
If you forgot the grey mare you'd be married you see
But now you have neither the gray mare nor me.
The price of that mare it was never so great.
Oh fare you well Roger, oh fare you well Roger, you're a sorrowful state!"

Now Roger's away to his desolate home
He sighs as he sits there and sups all alone
And Kathy, she sings, she is happy and [bad word] 
She's wed a young miller who works the long day
Lads when you're courting be always aware
To court with a young maid, to court with a young maid and not the gray mare.