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Young Roger the miller came courting of late |
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To a farmer's fine daughter called beautiful Kate |
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She had for her fortune a many fine things |
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Beautiful silks and gold, diamonds and rings |
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Her father, he gave her a neat plot of ground |
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She had also a fortune, she had also a fortune of five hundred pounds |
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Then the money and supper, they both were laid down |
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Well, it was a great sight to see five hundred pounds |
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The sight of that money and beauty likewise |
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Made Roger's heart greedy and dazzled his eyes |
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"Now that your daughter and money is here |
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'Tis I will not have her, 'tis I will not have her without that gray mare" |
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Then the money and supper were taken from sight |
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And likewise young Kathy, his own heart's delight |
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Roger was taken and shown out the door |
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And ordered not for to come there anymore |
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'Twas then he did tear at his long yellow hair |
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Saying, "I wish I had never, I wish I had never spoke of that gray mare" |
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Now it was when six months, they were over and past |
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And Roger the miller, he met with his lass |
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"I think I do know you then, madam," said he |
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"I am the same way with you, sir," said she |
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"A man with your features with fine yellow hair |
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Oh he once came a-courting, he once came a-courting my father's gray mare" |
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"Well, it was not a-courting the gray mare I came |
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But you, my own jewel, my Kathy by name |
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I thought that your father would never dispute |
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To give me the gray mare with you to boot |
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And not to risk lose such a dutiful son |
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Oh it's now I am sorry, it's now I am sorry for what I have done" |
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"For your sorrow, young Roger, I have little regard |
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For there's plenty of men in this town to be had |
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If you forgot the gray mare, you'd be married, you see |
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But now you have neither the gray mare nor me |
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The price of that mare, it was never so great |
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Oh fare you well, Roger, oh fare you well, Roger, you're a sorrowful state" |
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Now Roger's away to his desolate home |
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And he sighs as he sits there and sups all alone |
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Kathy, she sings, she is happy and gay |
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She has wed a young miller who works the long day |
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Lads, when you're courting, be always aware |
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To court with a young maid, to court with a young maid and not the gray mare |